Samuel Edward Gibbons' Obituary
Samuel Edward Gibbons, 80, of Decatur died Wednesday, April 21, 2010 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Funeral Liturgy will be 11:00 am Monday, April 26, 2010 in Moran & Goebel Funeral Home with Rev. Joe Molloy officiating. Visitation will be 2:00 – 4:00 pm Sunday in the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Isidore Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to Izaak Walton League or the Korean War Veteran’s Association.
Samuel was born on July 31, 1929 in Decatur the son of Claudius Vernon and Zelphia Berniece Griffin Gibbons. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church and was an Army Veteran of the Korean War. He retired from A.E.Staley Company Tate & Lyle after 28 years of work. . He married Jeanette Frances Fencel on April 11, 1959 in Seneca, IL.
Samuel was an avid outdoorsman he started his involvement in conservation by joining the Izaak Walton League in 1958. He was elected state Division President of the Izaak Walton League and served three terms 1971-1973. He served as National Vice-President of the Izaak Walton League serving two terms 1992-1993. He then served as National President of the Izaak Walton League serving two terms 1994-1995. He served on the Hennepin Canal Parkway Restoration Committee and the Giant Goose Conservation Education Facility Committee, near Atkinson, IL. He wrote and submitted the first proposal for the Illinois Habitat Stamp. He taught hunter safety for the Illinois Department of Conservation for more than 20 years. He was appointed by the Governor of Illinois to serve on the Agriculture Advisory Committee for the State of Illinois, 1972-1973.In 1966 he served on the committee that created the Macon County Conservation District. He served as Chairman of the Macon County Conservation District’s Citizens Involvements Committee 1976-1982. He was appointed as a trustee on the Macon County Conservation District Board serving two years 1983-1984 and was instrumental in the creation of the Rock Springs bike path. He worked with the Boy Scouts for over 20 years.
Surviving are his children: Byron Susan Gibbons of Alturas, CA, Annette Dan Clow of Decatur, Cheryl Hansueli Ryser of Durango, CO, Duane Dawn Gibbons and Errin Jenny Gibbons of Decatur, Felicia Marshall Haslem of Durham, CA, Gordon Lorianne Gibbons of Paradise, CA, and Loren Danielle Gibbons of Durango, CO; thirteen grandchildren; brothers, Calvin Gibbons of Sullivan; Leo Gibbons Jackie of Ingraham; sisters, Barbra Webster of Decatur; Wanda Glen Zakrzewski of Elk Grove, CA; Madonna Ray Petitjean of Centerville, MO; Mardell Petitjean of Wendelin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one daughter, Roxanne Gibbons, two brothers, William Gibbons and James Gibbons and two sisters, Mary Hale and Frances Johnson.
The family of Samuel Edward Gibbons is being served by Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services honored provider of Veterans Funeral Care, 2801 N. Monroe Street, Decatur, IL.
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