Edward F. Gibson, 83, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2012, at the Gardens at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge surrounded by his family.

Edward Frank Gibson was born on June 21, 1928, in Waterloo, Iowa. Upon graduating from high school in 1946, Ed enlisted with the U.S. Marines, serving until his honorable discharge. While attending the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, he met his wife Louise. On Nov. 24, 1949, he was united in marriage to Louise Alberson in Des Moines. Ed then attended and graduated from Creighton University with a bachelor’s in accounting. The couple made their home in Austin, Minn., where Ed was employed with Hormel Foods.

In 1964, the couple moved to Fort Dodge, where Ed was the office manager and later the plant manager at Hormel until it was closed. They returned to Austin where he continued to work at Hormel as the corporate credit manager before retiring in 1988 after 36 years. He was a past member of the Marine Corps League, American Legion, Golden Kiwanis, Library Board, Main Street Board, and served on the Friendship Haven Foundation Board. He was also a member of First United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher for 16 years. Ed enjoyed raising flowers, hunting, fishing and walking. Most important to Ed was the time he spent with his family and friends. In 2010, he was able to take part in the Honor Flight from Fort Dodge to Washington D.C.

Survivors include his children, Steve (Jeanne) Gibson of Fort Dodge, Sally (Mark) Klein of Savage, Minn., Anne (Joe) Amore of Bellevue, Iowa, and Andy Gibson (Kenny Mielen) of Long Beach, Calif.; grandchildren, Nate (Julie) Gibson of Fort Dodge, Abbie (Luke) Laufersweiler of Fort Dodge, Kelly (Rachel) Klein of Coralville, Iowa, Eddie Klein of Waukee, Iowa, Jill Bird of Denver, Colo.; Katy Bird of Kansas City, Kan.; Alex Bird and Riley Bird both of Fort Dodge, Ben Gibson and Ian Gibson both of Aurora, Ill.; and great-grandchildren, Emma, Calvin, and Eva Gibson, and Maxxus Laufersweiler.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Hazle (Bloker) Gibson; wife, Lu in 2006, and his sisters, Barbara Jean Gibson and Geraldine Leland.

A celebration of life will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 9, at the Celebration Center at Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge, with the Rev. Anita Johnson and Sr. M. Gertrude “Trudy” Keefe officiating. Burial will be in North Lawn Cemetery, Fort Dodge. A visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at the Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home, Fort Dodge.

Memorials may be left to the Friendship Haven Foundation, 420 Kenyon Road, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. To leave an online message for the family please visit www.laufersweilerfuneralhome.com.