John P. Gibbs

John Philip Gibbs (Jack, Dad, Pops, Papa, Brother and Friend) died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, November 24, 2024, in Toledo, Ohio.

Dad was born September 16, 1934, in Adrian, Michigan, to parents William and Elouise Gibbs. Dad was the oldest of five children and had said to have had a normal childhood until about the age of 11 when his father, a Michigan State Police Officer, was diagnosed with cancer and died, leaving behind a widow with five young children, Dad being the oldest. Before his father had gotten sick, the family had relocated to Grand Haven, Michigan where Dad spent the rest of his childhood. During William’s illness and after his death, the community of Grand Haven surrounded the Gibbs family with love and support during the very difficult following years. There were several men in Grand Haven who played pivotal roles in mentoring and shaping the man Dad became.

In junior high, Dad was gifted a camera which began his lifelong love and hobby of photography. He began working at the age of 14 to help support his mother. He excelled in high school even while working part-time, participating in marching band, playing football and Boy Scouts, where he earned the rank of Eagle scout.

Dad knew very early on that he wanted to be a teacher. To fund community college, Dad worked while attending school and he and his mother would go to the bank and take out a loan for $200 to pay for the semester. He would have the loan paid off before he started the next semester and would then go back to the bank to get another loan to continue with his education.

Because Michigan was in such desperate need of teachers after WWII, Dad was granted a teaching certificate after only two years of college. During this time, he met and then married the love of his life, Lois Mae Postema, on December 27, 1955. During their life together they raised 3 children, Merilee, Dan and Craig.

Dad eventually finished his college education at Western Michigan University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Education and a Masters of Education that provided the basis for many years as a teacher and later advancing to positions in school administration. In 1965, while Mom was also going to summer school at WMU, she saw an advertisement looking for teachers to work for the Department of Defense Education Program, teaching at US military bases overseas. With a shared passion to travel and explore the world, they applied, and to their surprise received a call late August asking if they’d like to move to Japan. They accepted, and on September 20, 1965, the family of five arrived in Japan, where they lived for five years.

During the five years in Japan Dad took every opportunity to travel extensively through southeast Asian and Japan. In 1970, Dad accepted a transfer to Germany, where the family then lived for six years. Again, while in Europe Dad took every opportunity to travel throughout Europe with the family, often in a Dutch camper he had purchased. No matter where he traveled, Dad would always have his camera and green Michelin travel guides with him.

Dad moved the family back to the United States in 1976, to Imlay City, Michigan, where he continued his career as a school principal. In 1984, they moved once again, this time to Marietta, Georgia. In Marietta, they joined Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. During the 33 years in Georgia, Dad was actively involved in many church, community, and Emmaus volunteer opportunities. However, his favorites were the many house builds with Habitat for Humanity, where Dad was the lead for these builds employing another passion of his, building things, and traveling on mission trips to Costa Rica. Dad also served on the board for Habitat in Cobb County where he taught prospective homeowners on nances, budgeting and basic home repairs.

Because of failing health, Dad and Mom moved to Toledo, Ohio in 2017 to be closer to their children. Once in Toledo, they joined Epworth United Methodist Church. Dad, despite being in failing health, was able to participate as a volunteer tutor at Hawkins Elementary for one year and enjoyed an adult Sunday School class.

Dad’s lifelong dream had been to go on an African Safari and take pictures. Along with Merilee and Doug, in 2009 he accomplished this dream while on a 10-day safari trip through Tanzania, including the nights of camping on the Serengeti. Thank goodness for digital photography because he took thousands of pictures!

Dad was a die-hard Michigan fan and attended his first Michigan game in 1951 when, as a boy scout, his troop had volunteered to usher the game. In recent years, Dad and Craig always watched Michigan football together. and their last game was on Saturday, the day before he passed. And Michigan won!

Dad was preceded in death by his parents, William and Elouise; sister, Jan; wife, Lois; son, Dan; and granddaughter, Laura Jahnke. Jack is survived by siblings, Shirley Westerhouse, Jerry (Linda) Gibbs, Ruth Ann Brown; daughter, Merilee (Doug) Jahnke, son, Craig Gibbs; granddaughters, Kate (Omar) Cantu, Nicole (Brian) Janas, Haley (Matt) Lush; and great grandchildren, Jack and Loralei Cantu, and Blake Janas.

A burial graveside service will be held in the Spring of 2025, in Marietta, Ga., at the Mt Zion Cemetery where Dad will be interred next to his wife, Lois and son, Dan.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Elara Care and Elara Hospice for the absolutely amazing care they provided for Dad. Those wishing to donate in Dad’s memory are asked to consider Epworth UMC: Hawkins Tutoring Program, or Mt. Zion UMC: Habitat for Humanity Building Programs.