George F. Gibson

George “Rick” Frederick Gibson, age 70, went home to Heaven on June 21, 2024. George was born on November 19, 1953, to George and Alice (Krueger) Gibson. Rick graduated from Neenah High School. In 1977, Rick married Cheryl Winters after a first date trip to Road America Speedway. In the ensuing 46 years, the couple raised three children, welcomed the spouses of those children, and celebrated the arrival of 5 grandchildren (and multiple fur babies).

Rick's foundation was his faith, and he loved his church family at Pathways Church. He especially loved spending time with his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. He loved helping his kids around their houses and being their personal handyman- helping was his love language. Travel and trips with the love of his life Cheryl made his days, weeks, and years full and fulfilled. He had a wickedly dry sense of humor.

He found inspiration in the written word. He enjoyed reading scripture. Rick spent time seeking books, articles and stories to read. He and Cheryl traveled to and investigated many libraries around Wisconsin and even some around the nation. 

Rick loved working with his hands and was a skilled woodworker. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed spending time fishing and in recent years he developed a love of gardening and was proud of his growing and thriving veggies. Having grown up on Lake Winnebago at Payne’s Point, he fished nearly every day, and even tried his hand at duck hunting on occasion.

Rick was the Parts Manager at Kolosso Toyota in Appleton for 42 years until his retirement in 2019. He was the guy who could always get things done! Parts managers from other dealerships and other businesses knew that “if they got George on the phone, the job would get done!” Rick carried his love of cars into his hobby of restoring Bug Eye Sprites. He was a past president of the Fox Valley Car Club, enjoyed racing at Road America and even participated in ice races on Lake Winnebago!

Rick is survived by his loving wife Cheryl, children: Richard (Sandy) Gibson, Heather (Ben) Moericke, James (Brooke) Gibson; grandchildren: Brayden, Jack, Micah, Chandler, and Lyric; sister Lori Rape and brother-in-law Clyde Rasmussen; as well as other relatives, friends, and neighbors.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Linda Lea Rasmussen, as well as other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday July 27, 2024, at Bubolz Nature Preserve-Blue Heron Room, 4815 N Lyndale Drive, Appleton. There will be a time for visiting with family beginning at 11:00am with a memorial service to celebrate Rick at 1:00pm.