- Date Of Birth: November 14, 1948
- Date Of Death: May 9, 2016
- State: Illinois
Martha “Jolene” (Godsil) Gibbs, 67, formerly of Rio, passed on at 2:50 p.m. Sunday May 8, 2016, at home Marigold Nursing Home, Galesburg surrounded by her family.
Jolene was born on November 14, 1948, in Galesburg, Illinois, the daughter of Urban and Louise (Watson) Godsil. She married Harry William “Bill” Gibbs, Jr. on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1970 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, also in Galesburg.
Jolene is survived by her husband, Bill; her two daughters, Tabitha Gibbs, Moline, Illinois and Tamara (Jacob) Allen, Erie, Illinois; her grandchildren, Noelle (Lucas) Wike of Abingdon, Illinois; Erynn Lundeen (fiancé’ Drake Stevens), Monmouth, Illinois, Andrew Mueller, Wilton, Iowa, Peyton, JoHannah and Jack Ruff, Erie, Illinois; and great-grandsons, Kameron Fowler, Abingdon, Illinois and Cash Stevens, Monmouth, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, John Godsil, her son, John and daughters, Tina and Tracy.
Jolene was raised in Galesburg, where she attended Costa Catholic School for her education. She worked for a few years at the former Woodhull Plaza as a fry cook where she made some good friends. She earned a CNA certification from Carl Sandburg College and worked as a CNA for Marigold Nursing Home. She helped out through the years at the Rio Print Shop. But what she is most known for is her assistance to her husband as a “gopher” making trips for parts for his auto repair shop. Jolene was also known for having one of her grandchildren or mom with her for her many of those trips. She also served as an election judge in Rio for Knox County for many years; she was very proud of her time working in this capacity. She was a member of the Knox County Homemakers Extension Association.
Although her immediate family was small, she had an extensive extended family with whom she loved to visit and spend time with as life would allow.
