Gilbert "Gib" Durkin, age 70, of Lake Tomahawk/Rhinelander, died on January 30, 2010. He was born on October 23, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio to William and Seneth(Forsyth)Durkin.
Gib met his life love, Corinne Marston, at age 15, They were married on June 5, 1960. Corinne was his constant source of love and support during his entire life. Gib enjoyed many things, but nothing more that spending time with his family. Gib was an avid outdoorsmen and loved taking his grandchildren on nature walks. He was proud of his many lifelong friendships. He enjoyed time at deer camps, dinner gatherings, and book club (recently named the Gib Durkin Book Club.
After graduating from Rhinelander High School in 1957, Gib attended the University of Wisconsin Madison. He earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology in 1961 and his Masters degree in Social Work in 1964. He than began his long and successful career with the State of Wisconsin Dept. of Corrections. He was a Probation and Parole Agent, Clinical Social Worker and then became Field Supervisor in 1966. Gib became a District Supervisor in 1967 and Deputy Administrator in 1969. During these years he worked in Milwaukee and Madison. In 1977, Gib and his family moved to Rhinelander when Gib took the position of Chief of the Northern Region, Division of Probation and Parole. Gib retired from the State in 1996. In honor of his many years of service to the State, Gib recieved the prestigious Sanger B. Powers award for Excellence from the Wisconsin Correctional Association. After retirement, Gib worked at Howard Young Medical Center as a Mental Health Therapist and for the U.S. Dept. of Veteran's Affairs as a Mental Health Therapist from 2005 to 2006.
Community service was very important to Gib. Throughout his professional life, Gib remained involved with the Wisconsin Social Work Alumni Association. He was a member of the Mt. Horeb School Board, The Rhinelander Rotary Club and served as Co-chair of the Northwoods United Way. Gib was also a member of the Review Board of the Ministry Health Care Northern Region Institution. Gib served on the YMCA Capital Fund Raising Committee and was the Executive Director of the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry from 2005 to 2006, being named Volunteer of the Year in 2006.
Gib is survived by his wife Corinne, his two daughters Elizabeth Cooper of Northfield, MN and Katherine(Michael)Botos of Naperville, IL, his four grandchildren Luke, Joseph, Anne and David and his sister Linda Worcel of Portland, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, a step brother Jon Gilman and his son in law Jim Cooper.
A memorial service for Gib will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 1:00 PM at the Carlson Funeral Home. There will be a time to visit with Gib's family from 11:00 AM until just prior to the services on Thursday, at the Carlson Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Newbold Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Gib had requested donations be made to the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry. The Carlson Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for the Durkin family.
|
