Phil Gibbons

Phil Gibbons, 61, of Grinnell died on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, in Des Moines.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grinnell with Rev. Ron Hodges, pastor of the church, officiating. Music will be provided by Marilyn Kriegel, organist and St. Mary’s Choir. Casket Bearers will be Nathan Andrews, Ron Graham, Chuck Griffith, Craig Klocke, Bob Maschmann, Jack Montgomery and John Mottet. Interment will be in the Calvary Section of Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell beginning at noon today, Nov. 15, and the family will be present at the funeral home from 5:30 to 8 p.m. today. A scripture service will be at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Should friends desire, memorials may be directed to the Building Fund of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Phil was born on December 22, 1951, in Abington, Pa., to John E. and Ruth L. Sibert Gibbons. He grew up in Mountain Top, Pa., and he graduated from Arch Bishop Woods School in Warminster, Pa. He also attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Following his education he traveled throughout the United States before moving to Grinnell in the mid- 1970s.

On Jan. 21, 1978, he was married to Jo Ellen Montgomery in Grinnell. Following their marriage the couple lived in Kellogg, Grinnell and Ledyard, Conn., before returning to Grinnell in 1996. Phil worked in the restaurant business as a manager for many years. Most recently he worked for the Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Corporation in Des Moines.

Phil was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grinnell. He was a strong man of faith, avid Hawkeye fan and a committed family man, who enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Phil loved meeting and talking with people.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Gibbons of Grinnell; his children, Charlie (Lisa) Gibbons of Newton and Toby (Robert) Steele of Tallahassee, Fla.; three grandchildren, Garrett Ficken, Elijah Yeboah and Jack Steele; two sisters, Margaret Gibbons of Landsdale, Pa., and Patti (Joseph) Sauerwine of Wapwallopen, Pa.; and his twin brother, William (Susan) Gibbons of Tunkhannock, Pa.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents and his father and mother-in-law, John and Pat Montgomery.