He was a giant. A legend really. He was the quintessential member of the “greatest generation”. He could build anything, fix anything, save everything and waste nothing. And now, unbelievably, he’s gone. Eugene Jens Gibbs slipped quietly from this life on October 15, 2014.
Born November 12, 1920 in Hyrum, Utah to Essie Morris and Mattie Lavina Andersen Gibbs, Gene was the second son in a family of twelve children.
Life was tough in those early years. Gene survived through hard work, a positive attitude and a well-developed sense of humor.
At age 21 he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States. There he built friendships and testimonies that would remain strong throughout his life.
He served in the Marines during WWII and fought his way through Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. On Iwo Jima he was severely wounded by a sniper’s bullet to the throat.
His months of recuperation from his war injuries did not deter him from marrying his longtime sweetheart Wanda Purser Leishman. They were married August 3, 1945 in the Logan LDS Temple. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Gene was an entrepreneur at heart and was always happiest being his own boss and setting his own demanding schedule. He was active in business organizations and served as the National Director of the Jaycees.
He was a skilled hunter and an amazing fisherman.
His retirement years were marked with travel and family and yet another LDS mission with his beloved Wanda to serve at the Church history sites in Nauvoo, IL
Gene is survived by his devoted wife Wanda, children Vicki Lee (John Jex), James Eugene Gibbs (Mechel), Tamara Christine (Craig Mecham), Richard Kim Gibbs (Lori), 18 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gordon, Milton, LeGrand and Scott, a sister Mary and great grandson Kaisen Gibbs.
Funeral services will be held on Monday October 20, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Harrisville 5thWard Chapel, 2360 N. 600 West. Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.
Interment, Hyrum Utah Cemetery.
Born November 12, 1920 in Hyrum, Utah to Essie Morris and Mattie Lavina Andersen Gibbs, Gene was the second son in a family of twelve children.
Life was tough in those early years. Gene survived through hard work, a positive attitude and a well-developed sense of humor.
At age 21 he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States. There he built friendships and testimonies that would remain strong throughout his life.
He served in the Marines during WWII and fought his way through Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. On Iwo Jima he was severely wounded by a sniper’s bullet to the throat.
His months of recuperation from his war injuries did not deter him from marrying his longtime sweetheart Wanda Purser Leishman. They were married August 3, 1945 in the Logan LDS Temple. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Gene was an entrepreneur at heart and was always happiest being his own boss and setting his own demanding schedule. He was active in business organizations and served as the National Director of the Jaycees.
He was a skilled hunter and an amazing fisherman.
His retirement years were marked with travel and family and yet another LDS mission with his beloved Wanda to serve at the Church history sites in Nauvoo, IL
Gene is survived by his devoted wife Wanda, children Vicki Lee (John Jex), James Eugene Gibbs (Mechel), Tamara Christine (Craig Mecham), Richard Kim Gibbs (Lori), 18 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gordon, Milton, LeGrand and Scott, a sister Mary and great grandson Kaisen Gibbs.
Funeral services will be held on Monday October 20, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Harrisville 5thWard Chapel, 2360 N. 600 West. Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.
Interment, Hyrum Utah Cemetery.
He was a giant. A legend really. He was the quintessential member of the “greatest generation”. He could build anything, fix anything, save everything and waste nothing. And now, unbelievably, he’s gone. Eugene Jens Gibbs slipped quietly from this life on October 15, 2014.
Born November 12, 1920 in Hyrum, Utah to Essie Morris and Mattie Lavina Andersen Gibbs, Gene was the second son in a family of twelve children.
Life was tough in those early years. Gene survived through hard work, a positive attitude and a well-developed sense of humor.
At age 21 he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States. There he built friendships and testimonies that would remain strong throughout his life.
He served in the Marines during WWII and fought his way through Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. On Iwo Jima he was severely wounded by a sniper’s bullet to the throat.
His months of recuperation from his war injuries did not deter him from marrying his longtime sweetheart Wanda Purser Leishman. They were married August 3, 1945 in the Logan LDS Temple. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Gene was an entrepreneur at heart and was always happiest being his own boss and setting his own demanding schedule. He was active in business organizations and served as the National Director of the Jaycees.
He was a skilled hunter and an amazing fisherman.
His retirement years were marked with travel and family and yet another LDS mission with his beloved Wanda to serve at the Church history sites in Nauvoo, IL
Gene is survived by his devoted wife Wanda, children Vicki Lee (John Jex), James Eugene Gibbs (Mechel), Tamara Christine (Craig Mecham), Richard Kim Gibbs (Lori), 18 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gordon, Milton, LeGrand and Scott, a sister Mary and great grandson Kaisen Gibbs.
Funeral services will be held on Monday October 20, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Harrisville 5thWard Chapel, 2360 N. 600 West. Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.
Interment, Hyrum Utah Cemetery.
Born November 12, 1920 in Hyrum, Utah to Essie Morris and Mattie Lavina Andersen Gibbs, Gene was the second son in a family of twelve children.
Life was tough in those early years. Gene survived through hard work, a positive attitude and a well-developed sense of humor.
At age 21 he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States. There he built friendships and testimonies that would remain strong throughout his life.
He served in the Marines during WWII and fought his way through Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. On Iwo Jima he was severely wounded by a sniper’s bullet to the throat.
His months of recuperation from his war injuries did not deter him from marrying his longtime sweetheart Wanda Purser Leishman. They were married August 3, 1945 in the Logan LDS Temple. Their marriage was blessed with four children.
Gene was an entrepreneur at heart and was always happiest being his own boss and setting his own demanding schedule. He was active in business organizations and served as the National Director of the Jaycees.
He was a skilled hunter and an amazing fisherman.
His retirement years were marked with travel and family and yet another LDS mission with his beloved Wanda to serve at the Church history sites in Nauvoo, IL
Gene is survived by his devoted wife Wanda, children Vicki Lee (John Jex), James Eugene Gibbs (Mechel), Tamara Christine (Craig Mecham), Richard Kim Gibbs (Lori), 18 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Gordon, Milton, LeGrand and Scott, a sister Mary and great grandson Kaisen Gibbs.
Funeral services will be held on Monday October 20, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Harrisville 5thWard Chapel, 2360 N. 600 West. Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.
Interment, Hyrum Utah Cemetery.
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