Obituary of Kenneth Gibbard
Kenneth Gibbard passed away unexpectedly in his home in Orleans, Ontario on November 19, 2019. He is survived by his wife Madeleine (née Boulay), son Gary and daughter in law Tara. Ken was born in Stratford Ontario July 19th 1944 the youngest in a family of 6 brothers and sisters, survived only by Art. Ken moved to Ottawa with his family as a teen where he met the love of his life, they married in 1966 and had their only child in 1971. Ken was an automotive mechanic by trade, this career came naturally to him as cars were his passion from a very young age. Likely driving before he could walk, he never stopped wrenching on anything that turned his crank even after a massive heart attack at the age of 45 and multiple smaller ones in the following years he continued to take on projects that many would pass up. Champagne taste and a beer budget if a car was on his bucket list then he never gave up on the thought that he would have one someday. For Ken the thrill was in the hunt, finding that one ride that was eluding him and subsequently hiding it away as a future project all the while promising Madeleine just one more car while keeping his fingers firmly crossed behind his back.
I’d like to ask that friends and family left behind take comfort in knowing that someday we may all get to take another cruise with Kenny as he gets behind the wheel of the coolest car you can imagine to take us to our own final destination.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be held on December 15th at Heritage Funeral Complex, 1250 Trim Road, Orleans, ON, K4A 3P7. Service in the chapel will begin at 1pm with a reception to follow from 2 till 5pm. Please feel free to dress casually as jeans and t-shirts were the only clothes Ken wore.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes or any charity of your choosing. Online condolences may be shared at : www.heritagefh.ca
