Lain Eugene Gibbs

Lain Eugene Gibbs, 89, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at his home. He was born on July 27, 1936, on a farm west of Delhi, the son of John Henry and Gertrude Mae (Scovel) Gibbs. His family moved to a farm north of Manchester where several tragedies happened. Lain lost his oldest brother during the war, cut off the end of his middle finger with a chunk of coal, and then lost his mother at age four. At age five, Lain started school at the Billhorn Country School. From here his family moved to farms east and west of Lamont, where he attended school for several years. Later, the family moved once again north of Manchester. Lain finished his schooling at Dundee High School where he graduated in 1954. After graduation, he went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad as a painter. He also had jobs working for Cry-O-Vac in Cedar Rapids and buying livestock in Strawberry Point.

In 1957, Lain was united in marriage to Marilyn Rentschler at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point. One son was born to this union in 1958. The family moved from Strawberry Point and resided in Independence where Lain worked for the Iowa Highway Commission. During this time, he coached Little League baseball.

Lain took a leave of absence due to the illness of their son and returned to school at Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo, studying Animal Science. Upon graduation, he was hired by Dubuque Pack as a meat inspector. Lain worked there for 28 years before retiring because of his cancer diagnosis. They moved to Manchester in 1998 and returned to the home place, which Lain purchased from his other family members.

While living there, Lain began hunting turkeys on their property and found that he enjoyed hunting. Lain and Marilyn both enjoyed square and ballroom dancing. He liked to play cards and other games. Lain remained on their property until the time of his death.

Survivors include his son; two sisters-in-law, Dr. Betty Hanson of Alhambra, California, and Judy Glesne of Omaha, Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews.

Lain was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years Marilyn; his parents, John and Gertrude Gibbs; his parents-in-law, Maxine (Kafer) Rentschler Hanson and Howard Hanson; six sisters, Gladus Utt, Mildred Fagestrom, Dorothy Rippon, Hazel Lei, Alta Kelley, and Marilyn Gibbs, who died in infancy; three brothers, Harry Gibbs (killed during war), Robert Gibbs, and John Gibbs, Jr.; half-brother and half-sister, Albert Gibbs and Alberta Gibbs; and two brothers-in-law, Gene Glesne and Carl Rentschler.