Gibson

H. Harold Gibson, 80, of Venango Township died unexpectedly of natural causes at 6:15 p.m. Monday at his home.

Born May 3, 1925, he was the son of William Ralph and Martha Belle Meals Gibson and was the fifth generation of the Gibson family to be born on the family homestead.

He farmed the family homestead with his father until he died in 1975 and then continued to work the farm with his son and grandson until his death on Monday.

Mr. Gibson was a widely recognized, skilled wood craftsman, especially in the area of kitchen cabinetry, grandfather clocks and standing cabinets of all varieties. A few years ago, he was presented the National Award for Skilled Cabinet Maker by the Cabinet Manufactures Association.

His son, Joseph, is a self-employed builder, and Harold has been involved in this operation since its inception years ago.

He was a graduate of the former Eau Claire Academy and was a lifelong member of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Eau Claire.

Mr. Gibson served several terms as a Venango Township supervisor and was a member of the Venango Township School Board at the time of the merger of schools into what is now the Moniteau School District.

An avid hunter, he had made 16 hunting expeditions to the western United States in the past 16 years. In addition to elk hunting in the west, he had been a skilled marksman all his life and was a longtime member of the former Eau Claire Rifle Team.

Surviving are a son. Joseph Glenn Gibson and his wife, Betsy, of Venango Township; and two grandchildren, Fae Gibson of San Francisco and Stephen "Steve" Gibson of Venango Township.

His wife, Margaret Geraldine Glenn Gibson, whom he married Aug. 16, 1947, died Nov. 15, 1983. A sister, Esther Gibson Moore; and a brother, Deloss Gibson, also preceded him in death.

<B>GIBSON </B>— Friends of H. Harold Gibson, who died Monday, March 8, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the <B>H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home</B>, Main Street, Eau Claire. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Ashley Shook, longtime family friend, officiating. Burial will be at the Eau Claire Cemetery.