Bruce Kinsella Gibson

Bruce Kinsella Gibson, 77, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on December 10, 2022 at Liberty Hospital. The immediate family will have a private ceremony in late spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the National Indian Child Welfare Association, 5100 S Macadam Ave, Suite 300; Portland, OR 97239.

Bruce was born in Independence, Missouri and raised, for the better part of his childhood, in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. He graduated from Williams Bay High School in 1964 in a class of only 24 students. The friends he made lasted a lifetime. After graduation, he attended Foot hills Community College in Palo Alto, California with classmate Sandy Stevens, with a focus on journalism and history. He later transferred to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico with classmate, Claudia “Snookie” Case, before both went on to William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. Finally he entered Law School at UMKC School of Law in Kansas City, where he came to the realization that he wanted to be part of the solution instead of the problem that the practice of law would present. Integrity ruled! Bruce absorbed his education with his exceptional intellect and it served him well.

His education was interrupted by the U.S. Military Draft in 1969. He chose to go to Vietnam and then returned for a second tour. He put country and family ahead of everything else.

Bruce’s professional career was a reflection of his family commitment. He went into business with his father in Gibson Contracting Company. Bruce displayed respect for his crew and every job was completed to perfection.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Marjorie Jane Gibson and Scott Reginald Gibson. His partner of 30+ years, Pamela Sewell Wacker Hanson also preceded him in death in 2004. He never recovered from this loss and is at peace with her now.

Family members that Bruce leaves behind are his sister, Penelope Jane Preston (Mark) and nephew Scott Steven Preston (Christy) and niece Rebecca Jane Preston Singleton (Jerry); also his sister Scarlett Salisbury Moffatt (Daniel) and niece Allison Meacham Moffatt and nephew Alexandar Burnside Moffatt.

Bruce was a lifelong educator of many. History, politics, cars, guns, aircraft, law, and massive amounts of trivia were his passions and played to his perfectionism. Every discussion was an education and a lengthy commitment complete with visual aids! He had a lifelong devotion to the care and companionship of animals that he shared with his family. While presenting a gruff exterior as a defense mechanism he loved and passionately supported, encouraged, and protected the important people in his life and there were so many.

Arrangements are under the direction of Church Archer Pasley Funeral Home of Liberty, 816-781-2000.