With heavy hearts, the family of Ted Gibbons announces his passing on Friday, July 24, 2015 in St. Joseph’s Hospice after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Ted was born on November 24, 1940 in Fort William, Ontario. He was the third of four children born to George “Tony” and Mabel Gibbons. Ted spent his early years in Vickers Heights, where he created fond memories with the many relatives in the area. Being one of the youngest of the crowd Ted learned to swim, ride a bike, run, jump and play with a “go or get left behind” attitude.
Ted was an excellent athlete who excelled at many sports. He grew up playing hockey, football and baseball. Ted quarterbacked many successful football teams at St. Patrick High School and the Westfort Ukes. Ted continued to excel in sports as an adult shooting a hole-in-one in golf and scoring an eight-ender in curling. He even tried his hand at waterskiing and downhill skiing in attempt to keep up with his kids.
Sadly, on June 18, 1948, Ted’s father passed away in an industrial accident in the Great Lakes paper mill. The family moved to town and resided on Norah St.
Ted attended St. Stanislaus, St. Mary’s and St. Patrick High School, graduating with a commercial diploma in 1959. Upon graduating from high school, Ted began his career as the clerk for Great Lakes Paper Woodlands Division working in various bush camps in Valora, Upsala, Dog River and Black Sturgeon. He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing, picking wild raspberries, blueberries and mushrooms.
While in high school, Ted met his sweetheart, Betty Lewinski. They married in 1963 and shortly there after started their family, welcoming son Tony in 1963 and daughter Terri in 1965. Daughter Tammy joined the team in 1978. With the responsibility of a growing family, Ted changed positions with Great Lakes starting in the time office and working his way up to Labour Relations, making many lifelong friends along the way. After almost 40 years, Ted retired in 1998. Upon his retirement, he was so proud to be awarded a lifetime honorary membership in the Great Lakes Union Local 39, the union he negotiated against for years.
Since he was a young boy, Ted and later Betty spent many wonderful summers at the Bottos family camp at One Island Lake. In 1970, they proudly purchased their own camp just down the beach which he called his “Little Hawaii”. Ted loved his time spent there with family and friends; driving the boat for water-skiers, having a sauna, fishing, picking berries and enjoying beer and ice cream on the deck.
Ted greatly enjoyed his retirement and the extra time he could spend at “camp” with his children and grandchildren as well as cheering them on in their various winter activities. He was always very proud of their accomplishments and achievements, both academically and athletically. In January of 2012, Ted and his family suffered a devastating tragedy, losing their beloved grandson Mathew in an automobile accident, a loss that hurt him very deeply.
In his retirement Ted took up driving for National Car Rental and Spadoni Leasing. He enjoyed the numerous “road trips” and the company of the many friends he made there. Ted enjoyed going for coffee with friends at Burger King and trips to any casino, including those south of the border where he could “donate” his money.
Ted is lovingly remembered by Betty his wife of 52 years; his son Tony and wife Valerie Gibbons; daughter Terri Gibbons; daughter Tammy and husband Jeff Buset; grandchildren Jenna Gibbons, Kevin & Ryan Buset, brother and sister-in-law Gerry & Colyne Gibbons, sister and brother-in-law Valerie and Ronald Sutton, brother-in-law Dr. William Lewinski and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Ted was predeceased by his parents Tony (1948) and Mabel (1999), mother-in-law Violet Lewinski (1995) and father-in-law William “Bill” Lewinski (2013), his brother David (1978), and grandson Mathew (2012).
Funeral Services for the late Mr. Ted Gibbons will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 12:10 p.m. at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, celebrated by Father James Panikulam. Interment will take place at a later date. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00pm until 8:00pm in WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the “Mathew Gibbons Memorial Scholarship Fund” care of the Lakehead District School Board, or a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
