Dennis Isaac Gibson

Dennis Isaac Gibson, 76 of Chilliwack, BC, passed away peacefully in his home April 21, 2020. He was born in Vancouver, the son of the late Kay and Woodrow Gibson. He was the middle of three sons.

Dennis spent his early twenties working as a merchant marine, sailing on cargo ships around the world. He frequently signed off of ships to live and backpack through numerous countries for months at a time in Europe, the West Indies and Japan. This period provided him with stories to share throughout his life, which he would often tell. He loved to talk and he was always ready to get out on the dance floor.

He began his career as a paramedic with the Metropolitan Ambulance Service in Vancouver and retired 42 years later with the British Columbia Ambulance Service in Abbotsford. He helped countless people in those four decades of service. Notably, Dennis was decorated for the actions he took to save lives at an infamous incident involving a farm worker vehicle on highway one in Abbotsford. Dennis loved working and chatting with other BCAS members, the hospital staff at MSA & ARH and members of the APD, AFRS and RCMP.

Even in his retirement he continued to help his community. For the past five years he was a bus driver for his son’s childcare business while also working on the safety team at the Mission Raceway. Dennis enjoyed spending weekends at the drag strip for over forty years and he had an interest in old cars, which he always drove to work. Dennis was very proud of his family, his daughter & sons and their families. He loved to travel to Europe, particularly Italy, where he returned a number of times throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife Sharon Gibson; daughter Trisha (Robert) Grecht, son Gregory (Corina) Gibson and their mother Margaret Coopman; sons Michael (Jennifer), Adam (Stephanie), David (Melissa) Gibson; and Yuko (Ken) Ogura. He loved all of his grandchildren: Cynthia, Alison, Alex, Aiden, Roman, Kale, Violet, Abigail, Ellie and his great-grandson Jayden. He is also survived by his brothers Gordon Gibson of Coquitlam and Russell Gibson of Kelowna.

Dennis will be laid to rest at Hatzic Cemetery where a burial service will be held for immediate family. A celebration of life will be planned for later this year where family, friends and the first-responder community can remember Dennis together. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting first responders and military members through Honour House at www.honourhouse.ca/donate in memory of Dennis.