Gibbons: The heart of a gentle man, the one with a kind, thoughtful soul, has come to rest. Gordon Thomas Gibbons died on September 15, 2006 at the age of 75 years when he suffered a heart attack while visiting family in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Just prior to his passing, he was getting ready to do something he loved and that was to take one of his granddaughters for a walk to a park. Gordon is survived by his wife and life-long best friend Helen. They have three children and five grandchildren: son Kent and his wife Sylvie Lussier and their daughters Zoe and Lia; daughter Lana and her husband Boris Minkevich and their daughter Nadia; and son Scott and his wife Teresa and their daughters Elora and Clara. The suddenness of his death was a shock, but his family is comforted by the fact that his final six days alive were spent with each of his children and grandchildren. Dad was born on the family farm near Rapid City on Oct. 2, 1930. He was the youngest of three children. While in Grades 11 and 12, he began teaching in one-room schools near Minnedosa. He attended Normal School and taught in several rural schools, including Belmont, before moving to Brandon in 1955. Like most of his contemporaries, he earned his subsequent university degrees the harder way - during summer school well into his teaching career. He was a young teacher when he met Helen Buhr, who also was a teacher in the Brandon division. They met at a young adults' club at St. Paul's United Church. They were married on July 27, 1957, and were just 10 months short of their 50th wedding anniversary - an event they were truly wishing they could celebrate together. Dad was a quiet, gentle man. He was patient, and loved teaching his children. If we had problems with school or had trouble hitting a baseball, he was especially willing to help. When we were young, he always tucked us into bed. He loved playing with us before we went to sleep. He was very supportive, and encouraged us to pursue whatever career we wanted to pursue, and always said that every occupation is important. Dad loved music. He encouraged young people in their musical pursuits and enjoyed going to school musicals and plays. He also had an artistic side. Dad always enjoyed a good laugh. He had a very hearty laugh. It filled the whole room. He was very compassionate. After he retired following 35 years of teaching, he volunteered at Brandon General Hospital and his church - Central United. At church, he was on the outreach committee, and did a lot of work with the Christmas hampers. He was a Cub leader there for several years, and recently served on the Joint Search Committee to hire a new minister. As a teacher, he was very patient with his students. He never gave up on any of them. If something wouldn't work, he would try something else. He especially liked being a teacher-librarian where he enjoyed doing research. Dad and mom loved to travel. Every summer, they took the family for a trip. We went to all 10 provinces, and several states in the U.S. After retirement, Dad and mom went to Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii. In 2000, they travelled to Scotland and Ireland to see where his parents grew up, and to visit relatives he had never met before. His main hobby was gardening and he spent many hours working in the dirt. He grew beautiful roses. His retirement life came alive when he spent time with his five granddaughters. They brought him tremendous joy. They loved being with him, and he loved to play with them, read to them and take them to the park. He was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Bessie (Lizzie) Gibbons, and a son, David, who died during birth. He is also survived by his brother Jack and Jack's wife Edna, his sister Mary Gray, Helen's five brothers and two sisters, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Viewing will be held at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street North, on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The Service to Celebrate Gordon's Life will be held at Central United Church, 327-8th Street, on Thursday, September 21, at 2:00 pm. Rev. Laird Russell-Yearwood will officiate. A reception at the church will follow the service. A private family interment will be held at Rosewood Memorial Gardens prior to the service. Donations in memory of Gordon may be made to the Brandon School Division's - Friends of Education, Music Program, 1031-6th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 4K5. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330. Memorials
Brandon Schools Instrument Music Assoc., or Charity of Choice