GIBSON – Philip

Philip David Gibson (Gib) passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on February 14, 2026, at Shellbrook Integrated Health Center, after a brief battle with cancer and other health issues.

Most people who met him were always surprised that “Gib” actually had a full name, he rarely introduced himself as anything other than Gib.

He was born on June 16, 1948, in Muncie, Indiana to Margaret Jean (Woodruff) and William Lee Gibson. He had four siblings, brothers, James, Ernest and William and Sister, Shirley.

Philip was drafted into the American Army right after graduation from High School and was sent to Vietnam. After he returned from war, he worked at a Westinghouse factory and travelled on weekends to operate a basket dunk tank. He also worked with an uncle at a paint store and another uncle who did plastering. Gib didn’t talk much about his military experiences or his early life.

Gib moved to Canada and found a new home near La Ronge with the Thomas Hamilton family, where Tom Sr. taught him about the trapping and hunter life in the North. He learned about logging, sawmills and wild rice harvesting. He met Barb at a neighbouring logging camp, where her bosses tried out their match-making skills. It worked, Barb and Gib were together for almost 42 years. He officially joined the Kazmiruk family in 1995, he became an official Canadian Citizen soon after that.

Philip (Gib) was an avid hunter and fisherman, he worked many different jobs, including wild rice harvesting, logging, heavy equipment operator, truck driver, road construction, small engine repair and bee keeping. He liked to tinker and build things that worked, most of the time. He planted many apple and other fruit trees in the yard, that he was very proud of when they produced fruit. In his later years, he had a few bee hives and could often be found sitting beside a bee-box with the lid off, watching them work. Gib also liked to keep an eye on the neighbourhood to keep it safe. The last few years he found mobility to be an issue, so he travelled his yard on his quad, often ‘side-saddled’.

Gib found another place on earth that he loved. He took a trip to Nicaragua, to visit some beekeepers he had met working in Big River and became friends with. He fell in love with the people and the beauty of the country. He travelled there every year for a few months, to get away from the cold winter months, and stayed in his little house. Nicaragua was very special to him as well as the “family” that he became a part of over there.

He will be missed by many friends and family. He always said that if he got sick, he wanted Barb’s sister, Eloise, to be his nurse and she was advocating for him right till the very end.

There will be no funeral held, he did not like going to them and requested there not be one.

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Tammy Smart, Funeral Director, Big River, SK 306-469-2277.

 

• Date : 2026-02-14
• Location : Big River, SK.