Fr. Gibson, following a short illness, elected comfort care only and died peacefully at the Phillipsburg County Hospital on Feb. 26, 2022, at the age of 91.
Fr. Gibson, a Phillipsburg resident, was born Dec. 22, 1930, to Lester and Alma (Gaines) Gibson. He attended Phillipsburg Grade School and High School. He attended Miltonvale Wesleyan College and he received a bachelor’s in chemistry from Fort Hays State University.
He served in the military, with the Counter Intelligence Corps of the U.S. Army from 1954-1959. He received his bachelor’s and master’s in German and German History from the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
He worked as a radio repairman, a plumber, in construction and for a chemical company, in addition to teaching. He taught at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. and high school at St. Mary Academy. He also worked for Beverly Enterprises as a regional manager for nursing homes in Nebraska.
He attended seminary at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisc. He was Ordained May 18, 1996, by Bishop George Fitzsimons at SS. Philip and James Church in Phillipsburg at age 65. He was parochial vicar at the following parishes; St. Francis Xavier in Junction City, St. Thomas More in Manhattan, Sacred Heart in Colby and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hays. He was pastor of St. Francis Parish in St. Francis, St. Joseph Parish in Bird City and St. John Nepomucene Parish in Beardsley. He retired to Phillipsburg in 2005.
He was a prayerful and private person who shared his opinion when asked. He was feisty and spirited. He had a dry sense of humor which provided pleasure to those who knew him in his later years. He will be missed.
A Vigil Service will be held Thursday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the SS. Philip & James Catholic Church.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 4, at 10:00 a.m. in the SS. Philip & James Catholic Church with Father John Schmeidler officiating. The service will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Hospital.