Rolland Dean Hibbs' Obituary
Rolland Dean Hibbs, of Chanute, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 23rd at Credo Assisted Living. He was 90 years old.
Dean was born on November 16, 1933, in Chanute. He was one of eleven children born to Josiephine and Raymond Hibbs. Dean married Kathryn Euleen Reese on May 15, 1955, and in 1962, they welcomed their only child, David Dean Hibbs.
Dean started his career with the railroad before being hired by Aeroduct, which later changed to Thermoid. He started out on the floor before being promoted to Supervisor, Manufacturing Manager, and finally to General Manager for the last 20 years before his retirement.
Dean enjoyed hunting, fishing, and coaching David's baseball teams throughout the years. He loved the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas State Wildcats, and attending car shows with his family. A former boxer himself, Dean also loved watching boxing matches on TV. He loved cinnamon candy and always had a bag of fire Jolly Ranchers in his truck, which his granddaughters were always sneaking. During the summers at Grand Lake, he helped teach his granddaughters how to water ski, which they still love to do today.
Dean's grandchildren have fond memories of spending the night at their grandparent's house, where they played dominos and dress up, went fishing, and spent endless hours swimming in the pool. Dean's grandchildren would often end the night curled up next to Dean and Kathy on the couch, playing electronic solitaire and watching movies. These visits frequently culminated the following morning with a trip into town with Grandpa Dean for PacMan donuts.
Dean is survived by his wife, Kathryn Hibbs, son, David Hibbs and wife Carolyn (Chanute), two granddaughters, Brandy Hibbs (Chanute) and Samantha Reinecke and her husband, Shawn (Chanute), eight great-grandchildren OceanRae Anderson, Tucker Anderson, Pippa Anderson, Jagger Anderson, Layla Reinecke, Knox Reinecke, Jude Reinecke, and Lilliana Reinecke (all of Chanute), two sisters, Betty Jennings (Tulsa, OK) and Evelyn Phillips (Fort Scott), and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Josiephine Hibbs, two brothers Wiley Hibbs and Raymond Hibbs, six sisters, Fern Dalton, Opal Nylander, Geneva Lour, Dorothy Fogleman, Margaret Vanek, and Lavaunna Hummer.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 30 at 11:00 am Westview Southern Baptist Church in Chanute. Memorials have been suggested to the Westview Southern Baptist Church Youth Group and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at: www.countrysidefh.com. Services have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 101 N. Highland, Chanute, Kansas 66720.
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