Miriam Louise Hibbs

Miriam Louise (Westling) Hibbs, 95, passed away November 13, 2022 at Lucas County Memorial Hospital after a long and richly blessed life. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held Friday, December 2, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Chariton. A luncheon will be held following the service for a time of fellowship.

Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, where she had been a member her entire life.

Miriam was born June 29, 1927, in Chariton, Iowa to Albert and Martha Westling. 

Miriam was baptized as an infant at the first Lutheran Church of Chariton and later confirmed as a member of the church in 1942. She was a very involved member of the congregation her entire life. You could find her singing in the choir, guiding the sanctuary preparations for Altar Guild, helping with the quilting ministry, collecting donations for missionary groups, or driving fellow members to Des Moines for doctor appointments. Miriam held the title of eldest member of her beloved church family as well as one of the longest members. 

Miriam attended primary school at Alma Clay in Chariton and graduated from Chariton High in 1945. She attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois with graduation in 1950, after completing three years of Nurses training at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. 

On February 14, 1951 she married the love of her life, Gerald “Fred” Hibbs. Together they raised Carol Dakan, Joel (Dee) Hibbs, Katherine (John) Poland, and Jana (Geoff) Holst.

Miriam held several nursing positions during her career which included School Nurse at CHS from 1950 - 1953, and then with VA hospital in Knoxville, Iowa until Lucas County Memorial Hospital opened in May 1961 through 1968. She finished her career serving 14 years as County Nurse for Lucas County Public Health. 

Miriam and Fred enjoyed many adventures including traveling to Canada in a converted school bus camper, and wintering in Florida and Texas. She was active on many First Lutheran Church committees, past president of Chariton Women’s Club, RSVP Club and many other volunteer organizations. Her family often lamented that Miriam was busier than any of the rest of us, even in retirement!

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 42 years, Fred, son-in-law Charlie Dakan, and grandchildren Chad and Cristy Dakan.

Miriam will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren: Jeffrey (Donnabie) Hibbs, Jed Poland, Cody (Amber) Dakan, Braden Hibbs, B. J. Poland, Adam (Casey) Hibbs, Alexandra (Eli) Hadley, and Jacquelyn Oppelt; and great-grandchildren: Connor Dakan, Akiah Poland, Elijah Poland, Zeb Poland, Zyan Poland, Zeke Poland, Ella Dakan, Waylon Childers, Spencer Hibbs, Caleb Dakan, Delaney Dakan, Reid Hibbs, and Russell Hadley.

Miriam's livestream can be viewed through the following link: https://my.gather.app/remember/miriam-hibbs