Patti A. Gibson

1936 - 2021

Patti A. Gibson
Born: March 26, 1936 in Elgin, IL
Died: October 5, 2021 in Huntley, IL
Patti A. Gibson, 85, of Crystal Lake, IL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Huntley Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 26, 1936 in Elgin, daughter of Edmund and Olive (Buckley) Ritschard. She married Billie Dale Gibson in 1957.
She lived in her "beloved Crystal Lake" all of her adult years, raising her kids there and getting involved in the community through scouting, community theatre, church, and various ways of giving back and serving others. She endured the loss of her beloved Billie Dale in 1968 when the children were young. Patti soldiered on, loving her children fiercely, knitting them close to each other and to her, and molding them in character to care for others (human and animal) and to make the world a better place, in ways large and small.
Patti worked for several years at the office of Drs. Hillstrom and Wall, and later enjoyed her years working part-time at the Nature Center at Veteran Acres. She was really in her element there, guiding kids through the displays, helping them with Scout badges, and taking them on nature hikes.
But the activity that Patti was the most enthusiastic about, truly her passion and her calling, was her work as a search and rescue dog handler, since the mid-1980s. She was a founding member of both Illinois-Wisconsin Search and Rescue (IL-WIS SAR) and Canine Search and Recovery (CSR). She saw her work with the bloodhounds she trained and loved as her way to do good in the world. Through her and her team's efforts over the years, criminals were tracked down, missing people were found, and fire, drowning, and murder victims were located. She was involved in some grisly situations through this work (and would regale the grandkids with stories), and she was not a sissy-girl. She was one tough lady, but with the most compassionate heart. She saw it as her calling to help law enforcement officers do their job and families get closure.
Patti is survived by her children Mark Gibson of Crystal Lake, Kim (Paul) Rampenthal of Freeport, Kandis (Rory Baracani) Cane of Arlington Heights, Kelly (Nils) Swanson of Wonder Lake, and Jenny (Scott) Leech of Crystal Lake. She will be missed by her 9 grandchildren: Christopher Schultz, Kori (John) Jung, Taylor (Hans Diaz) Harman, Nate Harman, Hailey (Tyler) Pliner, Billie Swanson, Molly (Jeremy) Mehlman, Wylie Swanson, and Macky Leech; and her three great-grandchildren Braeden Jung, Payton Jung, and Cameron Pliner.
She is also survived by her Walker coonhound Lily. Patti was predeceased by her beloved bloodhounds Emma Rose, Josie Wales, and Sybil— who all met her at the Rainbow Bridge last Tuesday afternoon.
A memorial service and a "celebration of life" gathering are planned for November 4. Details to follow. Many thanks to the amazing medical professionals at the ICU at Huntley Hospital for their compassionate, respectful care of Mom (and us) in Mom's final days, and to Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home for their assistance with funeral arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.querhammerandflagg.com.