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BORN
1926
DIED
2020
THEA GIBBS Obituary
GIBBS, 93
LAKELAND - Dorthea Johanne Kochan Gibbs died March 5th, 2020 at Lakeland Regional Hospital. She was born in Bremen, Germany on July 29, 1926, to the late Paul and Dorthea Kochan.
Thea graduated from Oder St. High School and attended Bremen University. She came to the U.S. and married Lloyd Gibbs of Tuscarawas, Ohio in 1948.
Thea loved, nurtured and cherished her entire family. She was also a champion bowl-er, played softball into her 60s, enjoyed all sports, loved eating out and traveling.
She was a proud Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Ohio State fan.
She was a member of the Sharon Moravian Church in Ohio and attended Christ Lutheran Church in Lakeland, FL.
She was preceded in death by her late husband Lloyd R. Gibbs of Tuscarawas, OH; bro-ther Paul K. Kochan of Germany; and son Raymond P. Gibbs.
Thea is survived and deeply missed by her loving companion Richard A. Brown; sisters Rosemarie Neelen and Helga Schroer of Germany; son Daniel L. Gibbs and wife Brenda; grandchildren, Raymond and Leslie Gibbs, Chris and Kendra Gibbs, Lindsey and Craig Rowley, Trent Gibbs, Jason Gibbs, Shannon and Joel DeGraaf, Bethany Gibbs Verna, Aimee and Jonathan Schaedig; 17 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren and many friends.
A celebration of her life will be held at Lakeland Junction 202 E. Griffin Road, Lakeland, FL on Saturday, March 14th, at 2 PM.
Additional services will be held in Ohio where she requested to be laid to rest at a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
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Shannon
March 5, 2026
Grandma, Can´t believe it´s been 6 years since we lost you. Not one day goes by that I don´t remember good times we had
together and think of all the good memories we shared. I love and miss you so much xoxo Shannon
Shannon
March 18, 2025
Love and miss you always grandma xoxo
Shannon Degraaf
March 5, 2023
Sitting here today thinking how has 3 years gone by so fast. Feels like yesterday we were all together enjoying dinner at dads. Love and miss you with all my heart. Not one day goes by that I don´t think of the wonderful memories you created for me during my childhood. Love you always and forever xoxo
Shannon
March 5, 2022
Not a day goes by we don´t think of you and all good memories of our life together. I miss you everyday. I love you grandma xoxo shannon
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Shannon
April 28, 2021
I was just thinking of you today and missing you grandma xoxo
dann campbell
March 13, 2020
I'm so sorry Rich
Paula Wolfe
March 13, 2020
Condolences to Danny & family. Our parents were great friends back in the 60's,(Chet & Nora Wolfe). I often wondered where Thea was & didn't realize she was in Florida. RIH beautiful lady.
Ferne Reichman Kinsey
March 12, 2020
I'm so sorry to read this,,My condolences to Rich ,,Danny,,She was a long time friend,neighbor,,She had a lot of influence on my teen years,,I considered her a good woman,,If I had known she was in Florida,I would have been down to visit,,as I live in Old Town,,about 3 hrs away off of SR 19
March 12, 2020
I'm so sorry Rich.
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