Lori K. (Weiland) Gibbs

Lori K. (Weiland) Gibbs, age 55 of Epworth, IA was taken in the arms of her loving angels on September 19, 2017 surrounded with the love of family after a courageous six year battle with Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma Cancer. Never has a person fought with such dignity and determination.  She was such an inspiration to her hundreds of supporters.

Per Lori's wishes, she will be cremated. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday September 30th, 2017 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where a prayer service will be at 11:45 a.m. with Rev. Dianne Grace officiating. The family requests no flowers and memorials may be made per your wishes. 

Lori was born on January 30th, 1962 in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of Wayne and Kay (Duehr) Weiland. She graduated in 1980 from Hempstead High School and NICC in 1982. Lori married Robert A. (Bob) Gibbs on January 1st, 1995 and they made their home in Epworth, Iowa. Bob was the love of her life and she called him "My Bob". 

Lori's employment included Prudential, Myers Cox, Weitzel Financial, and her favorite at Medical Associates West since 2005, retiring in April 2017 due to her cancer.

Lori's favorite hobbies included gardening, deer hunting, and fishing with her best friend and loving husband, Bob. They spent many hours on the Ole Mississippi River in Guttenberg fishing the back waters, laughing and enjoying each other's company. She also enjoyed her annual fishing trip at 3 Mile Lake. In addition, she enjoyed shotgun deer season and quiet times with Bob in the woods. She had a love for wildlife and flowers and it showed by the many plants and flowers surrounding their house. She loved family fun times with family dinners and playing Shanghai and Canasta. Lori loved her weekend rides in Bob's 1952 Ford Pickup as they held hands and cruised the country roads.

Lori was a very fun-loving gal and made so many friends with her outgoing personality. She was a very dedicated employee and was loved and admired by her MAC family.

At the age of 49, the same age she was stricken with cancer, she became "Grammy" to her only grandson, Kane Straub. Kane was her proudest joy in life along with her step-grandchildren, Caitlyn, Cody, and Nick Gibbs, Kobe, Kylie, and Khloe Ries. Lori looked forward to the weekends when Cory and Kane would visit. They loved making craft projects, fishing, swimming and baking. Lori loved the holidays and her home glowed with the many lights and decorations. 

In 2015, Lori became a very active advocate with Compassion and Choices. She held the chair for the Dubuque County Action Team where she educated the public on the Iowa End of Life Options.  Lori spent endless hour giving presentations, holding tabling events, meetings, and lobbying with her local Senators and House of Representatives. Sad to say, the State of Iowa never passed the bill in time of Lori's need.

Those left to honor her memory includes her husband Bob Gibbs, son    Cory Straub, parents Wayne and Kay Weiland, sister and best friend Kari Weiland, and niece Kaylee (Doug) Thomas, step-children Jason Gibbs of Manchester and Corina (Brian) Ries of Ryan, Iowa, Mother-in-Law Hilda Gibbs of Manchester, brothers and sisters-in-laws, Shirley and Rich Lee, Pat and Rick Palmer, Deb and Gary Gibbs, Linda Holtaus, all of the Manchester area, grandchildren Kane Straub, Caitlyn, Cody, and Nick Gibbs, Kobe, Kylie, and Khloe Ries also several most caring and supportive aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as her Medical Associates family. She is preceded in death by her father-in-law Burl Gibbs, grandparents Milt and Dorothy Weiland, and Bill and Izzy Duehr.

Lori battled a very brave fight against cancer for six years thanks to faith, family, friends, as well as a positive attitude, a sense of humor and amazing doctors. Her final gift to others is to give the gift of sight through her donation of her eyes to the Iowa Donor Network. Her family would like to thank University of Iowa dream team of doctors, as well as Dr. Eric Engelman, special nurse Jenny, and the Oncology Nursing Staff. The family would also like to thank the wonderful nurses and staff at Mercy Medical Center.  Lori will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. Our "Miracle Lori" is now our "Angel Lori".

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