Aubrey W. "Gib" Gibson
October 5, 2016Share using:
Chassell: Aubrey W. (Gib) Gibson, P.E. 97, formerly of Chassell now residing at the Bluffs in Houghton, passed away at his home on Wednesday evening, October 5, 2016.
He was born on August 13, 1919 in Topeka, Kansas, the son of the late Aubrey and Bertha Gibson. Following high school graduation, he worked seasonally for the Kansas Sheet Metal Company and for his mother's laundry service for 3 years before attending Kansas University where he earned an engineering degree.
He did control engineering for Allis-Chalmers and the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships in Washington, D.C. during World War II, and then civil and electrical engineering for Flora Engineering in Topeka and Cheyenne,WY after the war. He returned to Lawrence, Kansas to work at and later manage the Kansas University Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. While pursuing a graduate degree at KU, he was also an instructor, teaching benchwork to Navy machinists mates as well as other classes related to mechanical engineering.
In 1954 he accepted a position at Michigan Tech, where he taught, sometimes using unorthodox methods, until 1977. He was a resident faculty adviser at Douglass Houghton Hall for 9 years before moving to Chassell, where he gardened, observed nature, and maintained numerous bird feeders. In 2012 he moved to the Bluffs in Houghton.
He belonged to the National Wildlife Federation, the National and Michigan Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, CATO Institute, and the Hemlock Society. He was also a life member of the NRA.
Never married, Aubrey was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Barbara. He is survived by a nephew, Alan Halperin; a niece, Lisa Halperin; and 2 cousins all residing outside the U.P. He is also survived by special friends Richard and Karen Brooks, Robert Wittig, and Richard and Valerie Sarau; and by other good friends, colleagues, and former students.
A natural burial took place in the Chassell Township Cemetery where family and friends gathered. A memorial gathering will will be held in the ballroom on the third floor of the Bluffs in Houghton on Saturday, November 12, 2016 from 4 until 6 P.M. Light refreshments will be served.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Copper Country Audubon Club.
The O'Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with his arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.