Fred Gibson 1937-2008

GIBSON, NIXON, MCLAUGHLIN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/20/2008 at 00:45:53

Sioux City Journal
1 February 2008

Fred Gibson

BLENCOE, Iowa -- Fred Gibson, 70, of Blencoe died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 at his home following a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Rush Family Chapel, Onawa, Iowa, with the Rev. Don Collison officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Blencoe with a later date. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Fred Gibson was born Sept. 18, 1937 at Fruita, Colo., the son of Wilfred and Esther (Nixon) Gibson. He attended grade school at Onawa before moving to Holly Springs with his family for three years. They moved to Blencoe in 1954 and Fred graduated from Blencoe High School in 1955.

Fred and Patricia McLaughlin were united in marriage March 24, 1957 at Blencoe Congregational Church. They have been residents of Blencoe their entire married life and celebrated their 50-year anniversary last March.

Fred farmed for Harry Nielsen 12 years, and worked for Parks Construction at Omaha, Roberts Dairy, Peters Construction Company and Western Iowa Cooperative at Hornick where he retired in June 2007.

He enjoyed gardening, playing and watching sports and following Jeff Gordon in NASCAR; but most of all, spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia of Blencoe; his children, Robin (Dean) Fritz of Onawa, Dawn Gries of Onawa, Renee (Dale) Cooper of Whiting, Iowa, Freddie (Tammie) Gibson of Everly, Iowa, Christine (Mike) Kennedy of Onawa and Dianna (Gene) Persinger of Turin, Iowa; 20 grandchildren, Angela Cooper, Patricia and Marisa Fritz, Lane and Whitney Gries, Justin (Sabrina), Nicole, Bryan and Casey Cooper, Andrea Gibson, Ben (Tarah) Parsons, Ashley (Tyler) Tessum and Jennifer Parsons, Stephanie, Nathaniel, Gunner and Jennifer Kennedy and Logan, Megan and Katelyn Persinger; 11 great-grandchildren; a brother, John Gibson of Blencoe; two sisters, Irene McCord of Blencoe and Betty (Jack) Morgan of Onawa; three sisters-in-law, Jean Gibson of Earlville, Iowa, Chong Gibson of Albuquerque, N.M. and Judith (Delbert) Writer of Wapato, Wash.; and two brothers-in-law, Russell (Sheri) McLaughlin of Yakima, Wash. and Richard (Dot) Yanak of Lincoln, Neb. and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Jack, Steve and Tom and a sister, NoraBelle Conyers.