Gilbert Milton Labair

Gilbert “Gib” Milton LaBair, 85, of Stevensville, passed away on Wednesday morning, March 12, 2008, at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, at 10:00 A.M., March 15, 2008, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, with Rev. Wade Panse officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph Lincoln Senior Center. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Gib was born on July 17, 1922, in Memphis, Michigan. He was one of five children born to Earl and Beulah LaBair. Gib married Hilda Belle Minor and together they had two children. He later married Martha Covert after Hilda’s death in 1970. Gib was a founding partner in Lenk Produce, INC. – a truck brokerage firm. An avid boater with a boat slip at West Basin Marina, Gib cruised the Great Lakes many summers in his boat, the Mar-G-K. He was also a long-time member of the Lake Shore Masonic Lodge #298. Gib enjoyed playing euchre at the senior center. He always enjoyed “good conversation” with his family and friends and will be greatly missed. Gib is survived by his son, James of Stevensville and daughter, Susan O’Neil of St. Joseph; brothers, Duane (Pat) of Mayville, MI and Wilfred “Red” (Betty) of Mondovi, WI; and by his sister, Delores Roach of De Kalb, IL. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by wives, Hilda and Martha; and by his sister, Marjorie Hulett.