John E. Gibes, 96, of Petoskey, Mich., died Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling, Ill.

John was born Nov. 3, 1919, in Milwaukee, Wis., the son of John and Anastasia (nee Scislowski) Gibes. He grew up in Milwaukee until the age of 12 when his family moved to Larks Lake, Mich.

On Jan. 16, 1943, he married Geneieve (Jean) Wiklanski in Larks Lake. From 1939 to 1945, he served as a lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard Reserves in the Great Lakes.

John was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and was actively involved in many areas of parish life; he was an usher, a volunteer with Brother Dan.s Food Pantry, a regular participant in Eucharistic Adoration and the unofficial rosary fix-it guy. In retirement he took up the art of rosary making and made thousands of rosaries, most of which he sent along with the missions, all of which he gave away.

He was a member of Michigan Right to Life and for many years a member of the Third Order Franciscans. John was also a lifelong ham radio operator.

He is survived by his children, Mary (Michael) Kelly, John (Deborah) Gibes, Catherine (Ron) Remkus, James (Hiromi) Gibes and Rebecca (Scott) Snyder; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild on the way; also, his twin brothers, Arthur and Albert Gibes.

John was preceded in death by his beautiful bride, Jean; his daughter, Geraldine; son, David; grandson, Johnnie; and his siblings, Frank, Helen, Jean, Ann, Raymond and Marge.

There will be a visitation, Thursday, July 7, from 5-8 p.m. at Stone Funeral Home with a rosary at 7:30 p.m.

A funeral Mass will take place at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Friday, July 8, at 10:30 a.m. with a one hour gathering time prior to the service. Interment is scheduled for 2 p.m. at St. Nicholas Cemetery in Larks Lake. The Rev. Matthew Cowan of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church will officiate the Mass.

Friends can express their sympathy by making offerings in John.s memory for Masses to be said at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.