Today, we reflect with heavy hearts on the passing of Jeanne Gibson, who left us on July 29, 2026, at the extraordinary age of 100. Jeanne was a living link to a defining chapter of American history, a woman whose strength and determination helped shape the world we live in.
In the summer of 1944, at just 18, Jeanne stepped away from her Minnesota home and into the war effort. She became a welder at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, contributing to the construction of destroyers that supported Allied forces during World War II. Her service later continued with the Army Transportation Corps in Juneau, Alaska, where she embodied the grit and resolve that defined her generation.
Jeanne’s life after the war was just as remarkable. She earned her Ph.D., spent more than thirty years teaching, earned her pilot’s license, and continued to prove time and again that curiosity, courage, and purpose can carry a person through an entire century of achievement.
In 2024, Jeanne and her fellow Rosies received the Congressional Gold Medal, honoring the women whose work and sacrifice helped secure victory and forever changed the American workforce.
To Pacific Historic Parks, Jeanne was family. She returned to Hawaiʻi often, sharing her story with visitors, encouraging students, and ensuring that the contributions of the Home Front were never forgotten. Her warmth, her energy, and her unmistakable joy left an imprint on everyone she met.
Jeanne had a gift for lifting young girls, reminding them that their dreams were limitless and their futures wide open. Through her example, she showed what a life of service, courage, and conviction can look like.
She remained a steadfast guardian of the Rosie legacy, volunteering at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park on “Rosie Fridays” and championing the stories of the women who helped win the war. Her dedication ensured that their voices and hers will continue to echo for generations.
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