Donald William Gibson Sr. 74, of Woodstock, Ill., lost his courageous battle to cancer on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. He passed away at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, Huntley Ill., surrounded by those he loved.
Don was born Sept. 24, 1944, in Woodstock, Ill. to the late Donald F. Gibson and Joan Gibson Schroeder. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Doloris “Dolly” Burke, on July 27, 1963, at St. Patrick Church, Hartland, Ill.
Don graduated from Woodstock High School. He was very active in sports.
Don was a very hard worker and found a great deal of satisfaction and pride in his work. He was always willing to help others build decks or remodel homes. Don was an amazing woodworker and very creative. There was absolutely nothing Don could not fix or repair.
Don worked 19 years at Woodstock Die Casting. He retired in 2013 from the McHenry County Government Center as Building Operations Lead Maintenance after 28 years.
Don’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who survive him; his loving wife of 55 years, Doloris; their three children, Doreen (Steve) Braun, Donald W. Gibson Jr., Dustin (Kelly) Gibson; six grandchildren, Tyson (Kelsi) Braun, Jacob B. Braun, Aleecia Braun, Aidan, Liam and Anabelle Gibson; two great-grandsons; Major and Koen Braun. Other survivors include his mother, Joan “Betty” Schroeder; his brother, Robert (Linda) Gibson; as well as treasured extended family members and valued friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving maternal grandparents, Joseph and Lillian Meyer; paternal grandparents, Rufus and Alberta Gibson; his father, Donald F. Gibson; his sister, Donna, and her husband, Ron O’Brien.
Don was a generous person who loved golfing, music, dancing, his Corvette, origami, woodworking, stained glass, sailing boats, and spending winters in Florida. Don’s great enjoyment was spending time with his family, especially attending his children and grandchildren’s sports events. He very much enjoyed attending his granddaughter Aleecia’s basketball games, never missing a game, home or away.
Along with his wife, Dolly, he has instilled a strong and solid work ethic and an unbreakable bond of family in his children and grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by those who loved him!
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Ave. Woodstock Ill. The visitation will continue at the funeral home on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service. Interment will follow in the McHenry County Memorial Park cemetery.
A special thank you to Dr. Lesser at Family Medicine for McHenry County and also the ICU unit at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Woodstock North High School Girls Basketball, in memory of Don Gibson, at 3000 Raffel Road, Woodstock IL 60098.
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