Claire B. Gibson

Claire Bernice Gibson (nee Mandel), age 100, journeyed peacefully home on March 29, 2024, at Shorehaven in Oconomowoc, WI, with her two daughters at her side. 

Claire was born at Deaconess Hospital in Milwaukee WI on July 10, 1923. When she was only seven months old, her mother noted in her baby book that Bernice (as Claire was then known) had “eyes as blue as violets.” A few years later, she and her family moved to Two Rivers, WI, where she spent the better part of her youth on the family dairy farm. Years later, she often remarked that “you can take the girl out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl.”

After WWII ended, she moved with her best friend, Jean Payne (nee Avery), to Waukegan, IL, where she worked and where she eventually met and married Charles Hood Gibson in 1951. Claire was a true and devoted wife to Charles for 65 years. After her husband’s retirement from Abbott Laboratories, Claire and Charles moved to Gurnee, IL, where they purchased and fixed up an old house on 3-acres. For Claire, this was a dream come true, and she and Charles spent their happiest years, working together on their little hobby farm. Every spring they planted a huge garden, including giant pumpkins that became Claire’s pride and joy.

In addition to loving and caring for her husband and two daughters, Claire found time to enjoy ceramics, and camping. She adored her dogs and her grandchildren, for whom she hosted annual Christmas parties and Easter egg hunts. She pursued a life-long love of music and taught herself to play several instruments. Even in her final years she was always ready to entertain visitors with a tune on her harmonica.

Claire is survived by her two devoted daughters Linda (Jim) Thorne and Karen Quint, both of Hartland, WI, as well as 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles, her parents Walter Henry and Irma Claire (nee Kegler) Mandel, son-in-law Dick Quint, brothers Kenneth and James Mandel and sister Audrey (Bill) Fries.

Visitation for Claire will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Evert-Luko Funeral Home, 170 Warren Ave. Hartland from 10:00AM-11:00AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00AM. 

Burial will be held at Gardens of Stone Bank Cemetery.