Aubrey W. (Gib) Gibson
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 three 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,Wyoming, 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 nine 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 two cousins, all residing outside the U.P. He is also survived by special friends, Richard and Karen Brooks, Robert Wittig, and Valerie Sarau; and by other good friends, colleagues and former students.
A natural burial will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2016, in the Chassell Township Cemetery, where family and friends will gather. A memorial gathering will be held at The Bluffs on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at 4 p.m.
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 oneilldennisfh.com.