Norton resident Steven Gibson passed away into the loving arms of Jesus Monday, January 17, 2022, at the St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO at the age of 64.
Steven Joe Gibson was born Jan 3, 1958, to Joseph Eugene Gibson and Reta Lee Douglass Gibson in Denver, CO. Steven began his grade school years in Aurora, CO, but in 1965, the family decided to leave city living behind and moved to Westerville, NE. Steven went from being a city boy to a country boy. He attended a two room country school. During his free time he spent many hours with his sister, brothers, and friends enjoying the freedom of small town living. Favorite places were the family barn, the banks of the Clear Creek, school playground, and the Stevenson farm. From the hayloft of the barn, Steven fished for old sows(pigs) with a corn cob and rope. He spent countless hours exploring Clear Creek, fostering a lifelong love for the great outdoors and the wildlife that lived there. As a 4th grader, he developed an interest in taxidermy, and later became a self-taught taxidermist. As an adult he loved to use trail cams to photograph wildlife. One of his favorite photos that he captured was of a bobcat standing on a log with the snow falling around it.
Steven was a 1977 graduate of Ansley High School. Steven’s family moved to Ashton, NE just before his senior year of high school. Because he wanted to graduate with his classmates, he stayed with Wayne Scott and his son, Dale. Steven participated in football, basketball and track, however track was his love. By his Junior and Senior year he was placing first in most of the long distance races. During these races he was often towards the back of the pack, but as the runners neared the final stretch, Steven would sprint past them to the finish line. His coaches nicknamed him the “Road Runner.”
After graduation Steven enlisted in the United State Air Force, where he was a fuel specialist. It was his honor to be on the team that fueled President Reagan’s Air Force One Plane when it flew in to Offutt Air Force Base. He served 2 tours in Korea. While stationed in Texas, Steven volunteered to coach a boys baseball team, the boys called him Coach Gibby. Because he loved children and volunteered to coach, he met the love of his life. On June 16, 1989, Steven married Ellen Ayers. On that day Steven not only became a husband, but a father to Duane and Tanya. Together they made a family.
After 17 years of serving our great country, Steven retired as a Tech Sergeant from the United States Air Force with an honorable discharge in 1994. He received many awards: Air Force Commendation Medal, 2 OLC Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, 4 OLC Good Conduct Medals, 4 OLC National Defense Service Medals, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbons, 2 OLC Longevity Service Award Ribbons, 3 OLC Non-Commissioned Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbons, and 1 OLC Air Force Training Ribbon. Steven was recognized for his support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 to September 1994.
After his retirement from the Air Force, Steven and his family moved to Logan, KS, where life slowed down and country living began again. Steven went to work for New Age Industrial Corporation in Norton, KS. In 2011 Steven and Ellen purchased his mother’s home and moved to Norton, KS.
Although Steven was born in Colorado and lived in many states he always remembered his childhood home and roots in Nebraska. Watching a Husker football game with Steven was quite an experience … he knew how to cheer loudly! Steven had the honor of attending the Cornhusker Salute to Soldiers many times. If you chose to not be a Cornhusker fan, he respected that decision, but never understood why! Win or lose he was always a dedicated Cornhusker Fan! Go Big Red!
Steven loved children and loved to share his many hobbies and interests with his grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. He had a great sense of humor with a touch of mischief. At graduations he was the noisemaker! Steven accomplished that with a cowbell or air horn or even his voice to recognize their successes. On any given day you might find Steven and Ellen fishing, golfing, cheering at sporting events, at the horse races, making home improvements, otherwise enjoying life and creating memories. If anybody needed help he was the first to volunteer, whether it was a ride to the doctor, helping with paperwork, or even roofing a house. When the grandchildren asked Steven to take them fishing, golfing or whatever the request, he always put them first. Steven and Ellen often included his mother Reta, and his grandchildren in their adventures.
Survivors include his wife Ellen, of the home; mother Reta Griffin of Phillipsburg, KS; son Duane A. Edington and wife Candis and their children: Matt and Kelsey Binney, Kira and Logan Mumby of Warrensburg, MO; a daughter Tanya M. Gottschalk and children: Karson, Gavin, and Easton Gottschalk of Logan, KS; brothers Douglas Gibson and wife Colleen of Greeneville, TN and Bob Gibson and wife Linda of Kensington, KS; a sister Debra Obermiller and husband Gary of Arapahoe, NE; and many loved nieces, nephew, and other extended family and friends, too many to list.
Steven was preceded in death by his father Joseph, Granddaughter Naudya Jo Gottschalk, Ellen’s parents: Jim and Marie Ayers, Step-Fathers JC Daughtery and Don Griffin, Grandparents: Don and Gertrude Gibson, Grethel and Ivan Ladd, Sam and Hazel Douglass, Herb and Jewell Stevenson
This prayer was posted on Snapchat by Grandson Gavin:
Dear Lord,
My Grandpa just entered heaven and our family was going through a lot in the last couple of weeks. When he was in the hospital, he kept going back and forth from doing good and not doing good. Lord, all I ask is for you to keep my family Safe. Lord, my Grandpa is going to be a handful but you can treat him as good as possible.
Love,
Gavin
Steven will always be remembered for his kind and gentle manner. He made friends wherever life led him. Steven loved his family and created many memories with them. He lived life to the fullest and was always the optimist. Shortly after losing Naudya, Steven and Ellen observed a beautiful sunrise. He commented “Oh look! Naudya is coloring the sky!” When we see a beautiful sunrise or sunset we can remember Steven with his ever present quirky smile, his mischievous twinkle in his eye, and hear him say “When you know, you know!”
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022, at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg with Pastor Becky Saddler officiating. The funeral services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page.
Mr. Gibson will lie in state from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. that evening for visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Steven Gibson Memorial to be designated at a later date.