Joan Gibbs dies at 81
Joan Gibbs age 81 of Nashua, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 at the Shell Rock Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Nashua with Rev. Bill Nielson presiding. Interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery with Beau Biekert, Clint Biekert, Nate Gibbs, Michael Green, Dave Green and Beryl Biekert serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Shepard, Brittany Henn, Ryan Gibbs, Tony Gibbs and Amanda Ramoz. Friends may greet the family on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home -- Olson Chapel in Nashua. Online condolences for Joan’s family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.comJoan was born February 14, 1935 in Manchester, the daughter of George and Velva (Hugh) Hawker. She went to West Delaware High School until the 11th grade. Joan later finished her GED at NIACC. On a blind date, she met the love of her life, LaVerne Gibbs. LaVerne’s cousin set the two up. The couple was married on June 11, 1953 in Las Vegas, NV.After getting married they moved around Northeast Iowa living in Alpha, Waucoma and Lawler. They had many adventures together and made countless memories in the process. In 1969 the couple settled down in Nashua. Joan worked for Salsbury Baptist Home in Charles City as a Medical Aid. She worked there for 25 years before retiring in 1993. One of LaVerne and Joan’s favorite things to do was to travel to Texas for the winter together. They went for 18 years and made life-long friends in the process.Joan is survived by her husband of 63 years, LaVerne Gibbs of Nashua; two sons, Terry (Connie) Gibbs of Tyler, Texas, Doug (Terri) Gibbs of Nashua; one daughter, Lori (Dave) Green of Shell Rock; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Cathy Shepard and Jan Biekert; one brother in infancy, Richard Hawker.
