John Gibson

01/17/1936 - 12/17/2025

John Holman Gibson, age 89, of Alma, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Masonic Pathways in Alma. John was born January 17, 1936, in Detroit, the son of Robert Lauren and Alice Onota (Holman) Gibson. He grew up in Kalamazoo and graduated from Western Michigan University's State High School in 1953. He earned his bachelor's degree in engineering physics and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Michigan. John served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He married Jean Marie DeHaan on July 20, 1963. John worked as a Bell Telephone technician, Electro-Voice engineer, and graduate research assistant at the University of Michigan's Randall Laboratory before joining the Alma College faculty in 1968. There he pursued his passion for teaching and mentoring physics and engineering students for 39 years, chairing the physics department for most of that time. He retired in 2007. A devoted son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and grandfather, John placed great value in his family, who he loved and supported in all things. He was also deeply involved in community service. He led the Gratiot County Amateur Radio Association for close to four decades, overseeing the club's newsletter, the Alma repeater, and communication support for severe weather spotting, county emergency management, and various charity races. In addition, John led the effort to build the Alma College planetarium, designed visual and mechanical aid devices for handicapped children, and was an active member of the Alma United Methodist Church. He loved travel, reading, music, and photography and had wide-ranging interests in science, technology, history, and culture. He also enjoyed working with his hands, building and maintaining many electronic devices for work or home use. He is survived by his wife Jean, his children Susan and Steven (Ting-Hui), and his grandchildren Scott (Lisa), Brian, Thomas, Lauren, Ian, and Henry. John was preceded in death by his parents, Lauren and Onota Gibson, his brother, Robert Gibson, and his sister-in-law, Susanne Gibson. A celebration of life service will be held in Alma at a later date. Interment will be in Mount Ever-Rest Cemetery in Kalamazoo. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home in Alma. To view John's obituary or to leave condolences for the family, please visit www.luxfuneralhomes.com.