Jean Laura Gibson

Jean was born on the family farm in Morrisson, Missouri, the third child of Theodore Roosevelt Weeke and Eva May (Johnson) Weeke. By the end of the Great Depression, her family moved to St. Louis. Jean graduated from Soldan-Blewett High School. Her post-secondary dream was to attend a commercial art school, but landed her first job at A.G. Edwards brokerage firm. After a few years she enrolled in the nursing program at Deaconess Hospital where she earned her R.N. degree. Her nurse’s training brought her to Riley Children’s Hospital and it was her time in Indianapolis where she would meet her future husband, Alois Eugene Gibson.

Jean and Al were married in St. Louis at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church January 18, 1958 and began their new life together in Indianapolis. After Al completed his medical residency, they moved to Richmond, Indiana with their first three children, Mark, Karen and Susan in the summer of 1963. Soon to follow were their sons, David, Daniel, and Paul.

Jean was an active member in her community. She served as den mother for Cub Scouts, Brownie and Girl Scout leader, classroom room mother, and volunteered to serve on many committees. She was an active member of the Wayne-Union County Medical Auxiliary and Heritage Club. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family and friends at Clear Lake. Jean regularly played bridge with several groups, enjoyed Civic Theatre, Richmond Symphony and the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre. When she had extra time, she enjoyed painting. She would not shy away from hard work and she could often be found beautifying the neighborhood and completing home repairs and improvements.

Her faith-sharing community was important to her and she was an active member of St. Mary Parish in Richmond and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianapolis after Al retired. She organized the parish blood drive for many years until it came time to pass the torch.

Jean Gibson is lovingly remembered by her six children, Mark, Karen (Rick) Ruhl, Susan (Ted) Albert, David (Riitta), Dan (Becki) and Paul; six grandchildren, Andrew, Matthew and Erin Albert; Jack, Eeva-Liisa and Helena Gibson; her siblings, Betty (Ed) Henderson, Bill (Carol) Weeke, and Minnie Mathilda Gnewuch, sister-in-law, Gwynne Gibson, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Al, parents, brothers-in-law, Rev. Donald Gnewuch, F. Cyril Gibson, Gene Meert and sister-in-law, Erna Meert.

The family would like to thank the staff at Westminster Village North for the care they gave Jean in the last year.

Due to COVID restrictions, a private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 11:00AM. To join in celebrating Jean’s life, we invite you to view the live stream of the Mass provided by St. Thomas: https://www.facebook.com/StThomasAquinasSchool

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Vincent dePaul Boulevard Place Food Pantry, 4202 N. Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, IN 46208; Alzheimer’s Association, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240; or St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 4625 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208.