Stan Gibbard

A man’s worth is not necessarily found in the amount of money he made, the type of car he drove, or the house he lived in. When it comes to matters of the heart, true worth is often found in the lives he touched, the family he loved, and the service he unconditionally gave. A just and upright man of integrity can be valued in such a way that he leaves a lasting legacy because his life made a tremendous difference. What an honor that a man can leave a forever imprint on the hearts of all who knew and loved him, and such was the man that made up the life of Stanley Gibbard.

The son of George and Vivian Gibbard, Stanley Earl was born on December 28, 1927 in his family's Pleasant Valley farmhouse located in Antrim County in Northern Michigan. Marked by a time of prosperity, 1927 was a year filled with excitement as “Strike Up the Band” and “Old Man River” played on the radio and news of the day included the heroes welcome given to Charles Lindbergh following his historic transatlantic flight. With prohibition in full swing, the flapper redefined womanhood and gay times filled the air. Having enjoyed an adventure filled childhood, Stan grew up with his siblings during times of struggle for many as the Great Depression cast a shadow of economic uncertainty across the nation. Most of the family food and meals came from their small Pleasant Valley farm. Maybe it was this childhood experience that made Stan appreciate the person who could live off the land and survive with a minimum of tools and equipment and their knowledge of the bounty of nature. Depression times also instilled in him a frugal streak that would over time fill his barn with anything that might become useful in the future. Stan recycled long before it was fashionable and it was a perfect compliment to his appreciation and respect for nature.

Stan attended the local schools and enjoyed many friendships. Following high school, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. As a paratrooper with the 182nd Airborne from 1945 to 1949, he returned to Antrim County shortly after his discharge. He also returned home to his local sweetheart, a pretty young woman named Jackie Rogers who was the delight of Stan‘s life. They soon married and before long began their family. During this time Stan applied for training with the Michigan State Police and went on to flourish in his career as a State Trooper. Stan and Jackie eventually had five children and together provided a loving and dedicated home for Bruce, Deb, Don, Dave and Gary.

Longing to become settled in the ever transient "trooper life", Stan and Jackie in 1963 made the community of Clinton their lifelong home together where they spent memorable times with family and well loved friends. Stan loved where he lived, but his birthplace of Pleasant Valley remained close to his heart as having "the best view in the world", in retirement Stan and Jackie would spend summers there on the family farm. Stan contributed countless hours of service for the Clinton Rotary and as a member of United Methodist Church. He was loved in his community and returned that sentiment to all he met, even through his adventures outside Clinton. With the ability to couple his deep rooted sense of compassion with his duties as a law enforcer, Stan established himself as a well respected officer within the local State Police post. After 25 years of service protecting Clinton and surrounding communities, Stan became a realtor encountering all who might find interest settling in the community he so loved.

Stan possessed a considerate nature and was blessed with the inherent ability to understand people and how to communicate effectively. Through his optimism and wit, people were naturally drawn to him. Fun loving, he was a wonderful and convincing story teller and jokester. It was a joy to be in Stan‘s company where everyone enjoyed endless laughter and smiles. His legendary antics amongst his friends created countless memories throughout the years. An avid fan of prolific writer Garrison Keilor who laced humor and story telling with much satire, Stan never missed listening to him on Saturday nights. When it came to card playing, Stan was a sure winner with his photographic card memory. He could recall exactly how each hand was played, who had specific cards, and the sequence they were played in.

Whenever Stan liked something, it just wasn‘t “good” in his opinion, it was “the best ever!“. Only “Stan the man” could do all that he did with such ambition, exuberance and animation. With a love for cars, Stan was especially fond of LTD's. He could never pass one up for sale, and in fact had seven of them, five of which he used just for parts! Stan was known well for his delicious barbequed chicken, and his buckwheat pancakes were absolutely the best. He was quite particular and descriptive about the food he relished as well. His astute take on the beauty of potatoes, his favorite food, was often recalled with his comment, “if potatoes weren‘t so easy to grow, they’d be a luxury”. Whether baked, boiled or fried, Stan loved potatoes. When it came to oatmeal, Stan often said he could eat it every day of his life, and he did. Thoughtful and considerate, he never insulted anyone’s cooking, but often commented with "The taste is there. The taste is there", even if the cook hadn't found it yet. When Stan liked a particular dish, his response of appreciation was always met with "You got a good scald on this", and would never intentionally hurt anyone. In fact, if given a shirt or something as a gift, he would be sure to wear it or use it around the person who graciously gave it to him, even if he never wore it or used it again.

As a man who loved nature, Stan found beauty in all that surrounded him. He could spot a deer a mile away, and simply appreciated taking the back roads while taking it all in. Some of his most memorable stories came from the many years at deer camp and his hunts in Alaska guided by his nephew. At the age of 82, Stan embarked on the most scenic journey of all when he left behind his struggle with cancer. He passed away on Monday evening, March 22, 2010 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family.

Stan will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Jackie; his sons: Bruce, Don, Dave, and Gary; his daughter, Deb; daughter in-laws: Andrea, Peg and Janis; son-in-law, Jack; grandkids: Tressa, Anna, Kyle and Ellis; his brother, Joe along with many dear friends. A memorial service for Stan will be held on Friday, March 26, 2010, 7:00 PM at Clinton United Methodist Church, 10990 Tecumseh-Clinton Road, Clinton, MI. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Arbor Hospice, 40500 Ann Arbor Road, Suite 102, Plymouth, MI 48170 or to Friends of the Jordan, PO Box 412, East Jordan, MI 49727. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to submit a favorite memory or photo of Stan or to sign his online guest book.