Obituary for Philip "Buzz" William Gibbens
Philip William “P.W.” “Buzz” Gibbens, 93, passed away February 4, 2022 at his home in Olathe, Kansas. Masonic Service at 6:00 pm with visitation from 6:30 pm – 8 pm Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, KS. 66030 (913-856-7111). Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Prairie View Family Church, 27772 W. 135th, Olathe, KS. 66061. Burial with Military Honors to follow at Bonner Springs Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to VFW DeSoto Post # 6654 and SPCA Great Plains. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com
Buzz was born November 5, 1928 to Philip W. Gibbens, Sr. and Pearl Vidella (Leech) Gibbens and raised in Newton, Kansas. During the Korean conflict, Buzz enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Japan and loved the people and the Country. After serving in the Army, Buzz was a driver for Co-Op at which time he met and married Marceline Bradley. Two daughters, Kathleen and Alicia, were born from this union. Buzz later worked for P.I.E. (Pacific Intermountain Express) as an over-the-road truck driver. He went to night school and eventually operated two service stations, a Standard station on the N. W. side of I-35 & 95th Street and a Skelly station on the S.E. side of I-35 & 95th St. in Lenexa, KS. Buzz later became an owner/operator of his own trucking company. In 2002, he retired from Yellow Roadway, after having driven over a million miles with no accidents. In 1961, Buzz built a beautiful home in rural Olathe, Kansas for his family. He loved anything with an engine. Especially cars, motorcycles and airplanes. He owned and piloted several planes. His favorite was his Waco bi-plane. He was a member of Masonic Lodge #135, Lenexa, KS, American Legion Post #153, Olathe, KS and the VFW Post #6654, De Soto, KS. Buzz loved to laugh and enjoyed making others laugh. He always helped others in any way he could. Buzz was a father figure to some of his grandchildren and was the only “dad” they knew. He taught them how to do everything and to be self-sufficient. Buzz always said “Life is what you make it!”
Buzz was preceded in death by his parents; wife Marceline and all of his siblings; brothers: William E. “Bill”, Ralph E. “Gene”, James E. “Jim” and David W. “Butch”; sisters: Ruth Huebert and Naomi Drake. He is survived by daughters: Kathleen Denise Martin, Olathe, Kansas and Alicia Gale (Kenny) Hamm, Olathe, Kansas; seven grandchildren: Mitchell, (Heather), Adrienne, (Kevin), Russell, (Leslie), Samuel, Nicole, Ursula and Vance, (Genna) and 14 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Lucien, Malachi, Cheyenne, Wyatt, Ruth, Madison, Mikayla, Avada, Erwin, Zephaniah, Boone, Ryleigh and Remi.
Buzz was born November 5, 1928 to Philip W. Gibbens, Sr. and Pearl Vidella (Leech) Gibbens and raised in Newton, Kansas. During the Korean conflict, Buzz enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Japan and loved the people and the Country. After serving in the Army, Buzz was a driver for Co-Op at which time he met and married Marceline Bradley. Two daughters, Kathleen and Alicia, were born from this union. Buzz later worked for P.I.E. (Pacific Intermountain Express) as an over-the-road truck driver. He went to night school and eventually operated two service stations, a Standard station on the N. W. side of I-35 & 95th Street and a Skelly station on the S.E. side of I-35 & 95th St. in Lenexa, KS. Buzz later became an owner/operator of his own trucking company. In 2002, he retired from Yellow Roadway, after having driven over a million miles with no accidents. In 1961, Buzz built a beautiful home in rural Olathe, Kansas for his family. He loved anything with an engine. Especially cars, motorcycles and airplanes. He owned and piloted several planes. His favorite was his Waco bi-plane. He was a member of Masonic Lodge #135, Lenexa, KS, American Legion Post #153, Olathe, KS and the VFW Post #6654, De Soto, KS. Buzz loved to laugh and enjoyed making others laugh. He always helped others in any way he could. Buzz was a father figure to some of his grandchildren and was the only “dad” they knew. He taught them how to do everything and to be self-sufficient. Buzz always said “Life is what you make it!”
Buzz was preceded in death by his parents; wife Marceline and all of his siblings; brothers: William E. “Bill”, Ralph E. “Gene”, James E. “Jim” and David W. “Butch”; sisters: Ruth Huebert and Naomi Drake. He is survived by daughters: Kathleen Denise Martin, Olathe, Kansas and Alicia Gale (Kenny) Hamm, Olathe, Kansas; seven grandchildren: Mitchell, (Heather), Adrienne, (Kevin), Russell, (Leslie), Samuel, Nicole, Ursula and Vance, (Genna) and 14 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Lucien, Malachi, Cheyenne, Wyatt, Ruth, Madison, Mikayla, Avada, Erwin, Zephaniah, Boone, Ryleigh and Remi.