Wayne Robert Gibson

Wayne Robert Gibson was blessed with an abundance of leadership qualities. It would be accurate to say that this man was an outstanding luminary and that his natural abilities served him well. He knew with certainty how he wanted to set priorities in all aspects of his life. He struck those who knew him as the kind of person who awoke in the morning with a clear sense of exactly what he expected from his day and how to set about accomplishing those goals. Wayne was a man who definitely liked order and was most comfortable with an organized and structured lifestyle. When this climate was absent, Wayne would set about immediately to create it.

      Wayne was born on December 10, 1946 at Hamilton General Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. His parents were Eleanor and George. Wayne was raised in Hamilton. Wayne was brought up to be reasonable in his actions and was taught to use his intellect wisely. He was an honest and straightforward child, traits that reinforced his self-confidence. Even at a young age, Wayne was credited with having a positive influence on those around him.

      The positive atmosphere that Wayne generated spread to his family. Wayne was raised with two brothers, Dennis, and Ted. Wayne served as a catalyst within the family. He often found himself in the role of providing fair solutions to those sibling disputes. In every family activity, Wayne was able to demonstrate his uncommon logic and skill at building compromise.

      Wayne's enthusiasm for learning and the personal energy that enthusiasm generated led to his exhibiting leadership qualities early on in his childhood. He liked to see things executed properly and showed a skill for taking control of situations that were drifting out of control. At the same time, he was willing to experiment with different approaches as he worked a plan towards a solution. As a young boy, he participated in, hockey, football, and bowling. Wayne's memorable achievements included being a team player. He raised tropical fish for many years.Wayne loved his garden and riding around on his John Deer. He loved nature. He would watch the deer eating his shrubs and the fish in his pond.

      As Wayne knew in other aspects of his life, he had a clear vision of what he sought in a relationship and worked hard to achieve it. On August 12, 1972 , Wayne exchanged wedding vows with Susan Hamnett at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of St. Catharines. Sue was a significant part of his life, and it wasn’t necessary for Wayne to be overly sentimental or expressive about it for others to be aware of their mutual devotion. Wayne's secret to success was that he always kept the lines of communication open in the marriage and applied the important skill of being a good listener.

      Family and children were important to Wayne, even if he didn’t always show it. Wayne was blessed with four children, son Mark, three daughters, Sheila, Brenda, and Kimberley. They were also blessed with seven awesome grandchildren, Reid, Deja, Max, Destin, Calvin, Peyton, and Daelan. Wayne was able to keep order in the family by using the same efficient and straightforward methods with the family as he did at work. Wayne rarely made a scene when it came to discipline, instead he was subtle and patient in his dealings when teaching the children right from wrong.

      At work Wayne was viewed as a natural leader. He could marshal all of the available resources, including personnel and materials, in order to meet virtually any objective. He was great at developing strategies and made maximum progress with little wasted effort. Wayne was also adept at uncovering new and more efficient ways of getting things done. He was able to establish and meet objectives and schedules through long range planning and was always able to keep the big picture clearly in sight. Although Wayne might have been described by some as an overachiever, he was without question a dedicated and diligent employee. He was a machinist at Firestone, and Taylor Steel, specializing in preventative maintenance. In retirement he worked at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club, and is still fondly remembered at The St. Catharines Club.

      Not only did Wayne find pleasure in pursuing his various hobbies, he also enjoyed the discovery and research involved in learning about them. His skill at problem solving had a positive influence on these activities as well. Wayne was member of the Conqueror Drum Corp and in 1966 joined The Chessmen Drum Corp in St. Catharines where he met Sue, the love of his life. Wayne spent many hours as a volunteer coaching ringette, hockey, and sledge hockey. His favourite pursuits were trains, golf, and hockey. He was the conductor for all his grandchildren. He spent many hours at the Niagara Railway Museum and his skills and hard work are missed.

      No matter what the activity was, Wayne had the ability to motivate others. This talent influenced his participation in sports, too. He sought out the possibilities in a competitive situation, and he stayed cool and calm under pressure. He relished the stimulation of the action and energy associated with sports. Recreational sports bowling, hockey, and football. He was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were the Tiger Cats, Maple Leafs and BlueJays. He loved to coach and watch his children and grandchildren play sports.

      Wayne was a man who took pride in upholding his beliefs. When he became active in community affairs, he did so in the same determined and forthright manner that he applied to other aspects of his life, serving on committees for the Hamilton Girl’s Hockey, and The Niagara Railway Museum. He served many hours volunteering and helping others.

      There were occasions in Wayne's life where he would find himself involved in a cause or leading an organization and event where his drive to complete the project or meet the established goal was more important than his concern for the philosophy behind it. It was this kind of commitment and drive that earned him praise and honors throughout his life. Wayne along with his wife Sue were instrumental in starting Hamilton Girls Hockey and watched as it grew over the years.

      Traveling, especially vacations, was another way for Wayne to apply his exceptional leadership and organizational skills. He liked exploring different places but also enjoyed designing and scheduling the trips in advance. He had real talent for developing the perfect itineraries. Favorite vacations included cruises, and California. Cruises included, Caribbean, Alaska,, Norway, and South America.

      Wayne was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Wayne's favorites was Taffy and Dusty. They were best friends for 14 years each. His family was rounded out by his love of tropical fish and his fish in the pond

      When Wayne's retirement finally came in 2016, he was well prepared. He had worked out all of the details well in advance and knew exactly what he was going to do. St. Catharines. In retirement, he found new pleasure in volunteering at the Niagara Railway Museum. Always a well-informed person, Wayne enjoyed adding to his wealth of knowledge. Retirement afforded him the time to enjoy that experience and provided one more opportunity to look ahead at what life might offer him.

      Wayne passed away on September 6, 2018 at St. Catharines General Hospital. Fought cancer but complications caused his death. He is survived by wife Sue, children Mark, Sheila, Brenda, Kim, grandchildren Reid, Max, Deja, Peyton, Destin, Daelan, Calvin, and brothers, Ted, Dennis. Celebration of life was held at The St. Catharines Club. Wayne was laid to rest at his home, and part of him is in Hamilton, Hawaii and California.

      Wayne Robert Gibson knew what he wanted from life and never hesitated in going after it. He could be characterized as a driven individual, someone who understood the importance of achievement. Wayne was decisive and outspoken at times but was also positive and upbeat about most things. He was a leader, both intentionally and sometimes by default. If he saw that something needed to be done, he was always ready to step up and actualize, organize and implement a plan.

Wayne’s love is eternal.

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It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our family’s conductor and beloved husband, father, and papa on Thursday, September 6, 2018, while watching his last train with his loving family by his side. Wayne will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, best friend, and co-conductor of 46 years, Sue. Wayne was a member of the Conqueror Drum Corp, then he moved to The Chessmen that’s where he met Sue, the love of his life! His family train includes his 4 children, Mark (Andrea), Sheila (Wayne), Brenda (Rashaan), Kim (Schroeder). Wayne was the proud engineer to his 7 Little Grand Engines Reid, Deja, Max, Destin, Calvin, Peyton and Daelan. At the junction, Wayne leaves behind his brothers Ted (Cathy) and Dennis (the late Debbie), and many extended family members.

Wayne will be fondly remembered for his willingness to help everybody and by his many friends and co-workers after a long career at Firestone Canada and Taylor Steel. Following his retirement, he enjoyed working part-time at The St. Catharines’ Golf and Country Club and the St Catharines Club. Wayne’s passion for volunteering was well-founded and will forever be a part of his lasting legacy. He was a founding member of the Hamilton Girls Hockey Association, as well as a tireless supporter of Hamilton Sledge Hockey and the Niagara Railway Museum.

The Conductor has left the station but his call will forever be remembered.

A gathering will be held with family and friends on Thursday, September 13, 2018, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00p.m at The St. Catharines Club, 77 Ontario Street, St, Catharines. A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held at 3:00p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Niagara Railway Museum, c/o 6521 Burdette Dr., Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 5H4, in Wayne’s honour.