1933-2024
Lola Jean “Jean” Gibson, 91, daughter of Preston and Letha (Logsdon) Spillers, was born Jan. 13, 1933, in Des Moines. She passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at UnityPoint Health – Methodist West Hospital, West Des Moines.
Jean met her future husband, Charles “Dick” Gibson, in the fourth grade, and from that day forward, knew they were meant for each other. Jean graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1951. She went on to graduate from the Iowa Teachers College after two years. On May 15, 1953, she married Charles “Dick” Gibson at the Presbyterian Church in Guthrie Center. Jean and Dick had four children together and fostered 59 infants and 10 older children. After Dick’s military service in Bermuda, the Gibson family moved around Iowa, eventually settling in Clive until 1974, when they moved to the family farm in Dallas County near Linden. In 2018, they moved into Linden from the farm.
Jean enjoyed attending her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s events, knitting and making dish cloths, researching family history, and watching her soaps and game shows. She was an avid Chicago Cubs and Iowa State Cyclones fan and loved cribbage, bingo, going to the casino, family reunions and getting everyone together to take a picture.
Jean was a member of the Linden United Methodist Church, where she volunteered for many activities and functions. She was also a very involved member of the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as secretary, treasurer and was a past Worthy Matron.
Jean is survived by her children, Linda (Mark) McQuistan of Clermont, Florida; Douglas (Julie) Gibson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Luann “Dee” (Randy) Olson of Linden; Dennis (Darla) Gibson of Adel; special foster daughter, Mary Ann Killin; and nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dick; great-grandson, Nolan Wilson; and sister, Jane Simon.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Monday, April 8, 2024, at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora. Burial will be in West Linn Cemetery, near Linden. Visitation will be Sunday, April 7, 2024, from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Unity Point Hospice, Jefferson, or the Eastern Star of Panora.