Passed away peacefully at Jessica’s House, Exeter on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at the age of 91. Beloved husband of Barbara (Austin) Dow for 58 years. Cherished father of Gilbert J. Dow, father-in-law of Jennifer (Glavin) Dow and stepfather of Jim Gifford, Nancy Gifford and Don Gifford. Adored grandfather of 5, great-grandfather of 7 and great-great-grandfather of 1. Dear brother-in-law of Ron and Bev Austin and Marilyn Bailey.
Gib was the founder of Ironwood Golf Club and The Dow Subdivision in Exeter. He provided lands for both the Exeter Curling Club and Morrison Trail. Son of one of Ontario’s largest horse dealers, they also owned one of Ontario’s first electric milking parlours. Gib was an active member of the Exeter Lions and Exeter Kinsman Club. He was a man of many talents and will be fondly remembered by many family, friends and those in the aviation community.
A public Celebration of Gib’s Life – come and go style, will be held at the Ironwood Golf Course, 70969 Morrison Line, Exeter on Saturday, April 22nd from 2 – 4 PM. Private family interment at Exeter Cemetery to be held at a later date.
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Judy Hodgins
Barb, Gib Jr., and all the family
Heartfelt sympathy – we’ve lost an icon spent over 22 years getting to know Gibby. He will be missed.
Carol Coleman
Barb & Family,
Sorry to read of Gib’s passing.
As many have shared, he was a good man and a champion when it came to sharing his time & talents.
Sending our heartfelt condolences.
John & Carol Coleman
Al &Nancy Quinn
So sorry to hear of Gibs passing. I worked at Ironwood and always enjoyed his wit and sense of humor. RIP Gib
Katherine Ens
Deepest Sympathy to Gib’s family and friends.
Ray and Nadine Chong
Sending our sincerest condolences to the Dow family.
The Chong family
Bob and Helen Coates
We extend our sincere to all of Gib’s family. He will be remembered for his many accomplishments including the Ironwood Golf Course and Dow Subdivision.
Kathy Campbell
I was so sad to hear of the passing of Gib, my deepest condolences to all the family. I have many memories of him , his dry sense of humour and Ironwood.
May the memory of him bring love and peace to you all.
Diane Van Bergen-Wein
My condolences to Barb and family. Gib was a pillar in our community. A wonderful man.
Rose and Keith Brittain
Barb and family
,So sorry for your loss all your good memories to hold RIP Gib
Phyllis and Fred Mommersteeg
Barb and Family,
We are sending deepest condolences to you and your Family,
Thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.Take care.
Phyllis & Fred
Jason Van Haarlem
Barb, Gib and family,
Sending condolences about this sad news. Cherish the memories.
Jason and Collette Van Haarlem
Exeter Villa
The residents and staff of the Exeter Villa send their heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
Rhonda Manore
Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss!
Gib will be missed by so many!
Ben and Susan Hoogenboom
Barb and family,
We are so sorry to hear of Gib’s passing. Gib contributed greatly in making Exeter a wonderful place to live. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Doug and Phyllis Johnson
Barb and Family:
Our thoughts are with you.
May all your wonderful memories sustain you at this difficult time. Gib will be missed by so many.
Doug and Phyllis Johnson
Herman
Barb and Family
We are sending our Sincere Condolences.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
From
Herman and Joanne Steffens
And Family
Kellie Gibson
Dear Gib, Barb, Jen, Sophie & Holly
Our sincerest condolences to all of you and all those who loved Gib Sr. I’ve no doubt you’ll cherish the memories and the wisdom he leaves in your hearts and minds. He was a special man.
Hugs to you all.
Kellie (Whiteford) Gibson
Margaret Prout
Barb and family…
I wish to extend my sincere condolences to all. Gib has left a wonderful legacy
for the family and the community. Cherish all your wonderful memories of a
life well lived.
Carolanne Doig
Barb, Gibb Jr. and all in the Dow family, I send me sincerest sympathy at this time. Being golf business “neighbours” for decades, I had opportunities to chat with Gibb Sr. many times. The Ironwood GC has given the Dow family and the community of Exeter much to be proud of. Those not in the golf industry may not know just how tough the rural golf business was a half century ago but patience, perseverance, and just plain old family work ethic, kept many small golf courses like Ironwood and Seaforth alive. Gibb worked hard. Ninety one years is a good run. Well done Gibb.
Cecil Rorabeck
Our condolences to Barbara and family and also Gibby and Jennifer. As a little boy I visited Exeter with my mother and my aunt , and Gib taught me me how to milk a cow – much to a little boys delight . That said he will be missed by all the Rorabeck‘s
Margaret Brintnell
I extend my sympathy to you Barb & All Your Family. Beautiful pictures. All of you will have wonderful memories to share now & in days to come.
Margaret Brintnell
George and Sue Wilson
Barb and family, sincere condolences on your loss of Gib. He will be missed in our community. Remember your wonderful memories. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Scott Bogart
Barb & Family
Sorry to hear of Gib’s passing. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Scott, Lynda, Luke & Heath Bogart
Dennis & Joan Duncan
Nancy & Jim
Our sympathy in the loss of your stepfather. Cherish the memories.
Dennis & Joan Duncan
Jacqui & Charlie Regier
Dear Barb, Gib jr, Jim ,Nancy and Don, sorry for your loss, Gib did a lot for the Exeter community, he will be missed by his friends and family.. your have our condolences at this very sad time…Jacqui & Charlie Regier
Ron & Cathie Mabee
Very sad to learn of Gib ‘s passing .I will miss seeing him at the golf course. I will always remember him tearing around the ponds in his golf cart chasing away those pesky Canada geese. He loved Ironwood and worked hard to develop it into one of the most popular golf courses in southwestern Ontario. His legacy lives on. Our sincere condolences to Barb, Gib Jr, Jim, Don , Nancy and the entire Dow family. Thank You Gib and may you rest in peace
Ken and Kim Pinder and family
To the Dow Family
We are very sorry to hear of Gib’s passing. Our sincere sympathy to you all. Cherish the wonderful memories you have. Thinking of you at this sad time.
Kerri
So sorry for your loss, Jim and family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Donna Perry
To Barb and Gib’s whole family
So sorry to hear of Gib’s passing he was such a great guy. You will have lots of wonderful memories to share with each other at this sad time.
With Deepest Sympathy Donna Perry
Barry & Melonie Miller
Barb & family
Keep your memories close & I am sure you have many… our condolences to you & your family
Barry & Melonie Miller
Allen and Marjorie Oke
Barb and family. Our sincere condolences to you and your family.Gib will be fondly remembered by friends, family and the community for sure.
Alvin & Marg Epp
Our sincere condolences to the Dow family in the passing of Gib. Hold all your memories in your hearts.
Rochelle Gibbings & Family
Barb, Gib Jr, Jim, Nancy and Don and families
My favourite memory of Gib Sr was cooking his hotdog to perfection and his words of wisdom that “there is more than one way to get to Toronto”. He was a man who knew what he liked and would tell it like it is. My deepest condolences on this sad time.
Barb Snoddy
Barb, you and Gib both fought a tough battle. In deepest sympathy.
John and Linda Wuerth
Please accept our heartfelt condolences to Barb and the extended Dow family. The Exeter business community will cherish Gibs many contributions.
Joe & Marla Wilson
Barb & family
Joe and I extend our most heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. May the wonderful memories you have help to ease the pain in your heart today and the days ahead. Gib may be gone, but remember no one can take all the memories you have. May you be comforted by the out pouring of love surrounding you.
Hold tight to your memories for comfort and lean on family and friends for strength. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Janice Frayne Morris
Barb and Family,
I express my condolence to you all.
Jim and Verla Russell
Barb, Gib and Jenn, Jim, Nancy, Don and Family:
Our heartfelt sympathy on the passing of Gib.
Our prayers and thoughts are with at this sad time.
Jim enjoyed playing golf with Gib on a great developed golf course.
Doug Jamieson
Barb and family.
My condolences on Gib’s passing. Remembering fun times on Pryde Blvd. many years ago
Doug JAMIESON
Jerry and Alice MacLean
Sympathy’s to all Family connections of Gib Dow Sr.
Jerry will miss his visits with Gib at the Villa.
When Gib was working at Ironwood he often joined “the boys” when they had coffee after a round of golf, many memories come from those round table chats!Thinking of those times makes one smile.
Thinking back on your memories with Gib will hopefully bring smiles to your faces also.
He was a very considerate man.
May he Rest in piece.
Jerry and Alice MacLean
Casey Cook
Our condolences Barb, Gib Jr. Nancy, Don and Jim. Gib was a fine man. We enjoyed his sense of humour.
Casey and Anna Marie Cook
Peter Darbishire
My sincere condolences to all of the Dow Family. How great is it to have such good neighbours for almost 40 years? We’ve seen a great contribution to the local region through the efforts and determination of Gib and his family.
Jim Chapman
Barbara, Gib. and families;
Please accept my sincere sympathy. Your loss is also a loss in the community.
Have positive thoughts about Gib. and his contributions.
Cheryl Becker
Barb, Gib and families
So sorry to hear of Gib’s passing. Thinking of you all during this difficult time.
Hugs!!
Cheryl Becker (Dowson)
Jim & Elaine Tomlinson
Sincere sympathy and condolences to Barb and all the family at this time.
Reflect on the wonderful memories you had together
J&E Tomlinson
Sincere sympathy and condolences to Barb and all the family at this time.
God be with you all.
Jim and Elaine Tomlinson
MaryJane Taylor
Barb and all your family,
My Sincere Sympathy in your loss of a dear husband, father and
grandpa… Gibs passing has saddened the hearts of many…
May fond memories be a comfort to you all…
As a dear friend thanks for the memories Gib
Rest In Peace 💕
Maureen Wood
Barb & Nancy & Family
My sincere Sympathy ,Thinking of you
Hiep and Luciana Parlea-Vuong
Our sympathy and condolences to the family.
Hiep & Luciana Parlea-Vuong
Our condolences and sympathy to the family.
Sherrie Broderick/Larry Ballantyne
Dear Dow and Gifford Family
Sending our deepest sympathies. So many memories to carry you through this difficult time and as time passes.
Luciana Parlea
Our deepest sympathies to the entire family. Luciana and Hiep
Gary and Louise Heywood
To Barb and all the family. Sorry to hear of Gibs passing .Please except our condolences Gib was a great guy.
Kari L Hearn
To Barbara and the entire Dow family .
We are sending our deepest condolences to you s all of the passing of Gib .Words will never heal the pain of lossing someone but knowing there are so many that will watch over you in time of need . RIP The Hearn family
Barbara Taylor
So sorry to hear the news, condolences to the family, will miss seeing him sitting on the patio. Enjoy the memories.
Keith and Barbara Taylor
Brian & Janet Wedlake
Please except our condolences at this time. For many years we enjoyed seeing Gib at the golf course. He had a long and successful life.
Dave Frayne and Cathy Cade
To Barb, Gib Jr, Jim, Nancy, Don and families
Sorry to learn of Gib’s passing, both Cathy and I have a lot of memories of him. We hope your memories will bring you comfort in the future.
Our condolences to all
Victor Fulcher
I had a great conversation with Gib many years ago.
We had been talking about what people ought to try to accomplish with their lives, and I remember very clearly Gib saying “it’s about more than the money.” Although he did not elaborate, I think what he meant was that how we value what we do with our lives should be based on more than how much money we make. This coming from a highly successful businessman!
I don’t know if Gib ever got rich from his ownership of Ironwood Golf Course. I do know that he showed a lot of courage and vision in operating it years ago when not that many people played golf. And over the years he turned Ironwood into a golf course highly regarded within the golf industry.
I hope Exeter will find a way to acknowledge Gib’s many substantial contributions to the community over the years. He was truly an old time mover and shaker. And he did it his way.
Faye Skinner
Barb and family:
So sorry to hear of the death of Gib. My thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Faye Skinner
Darlene Porter
Deepest sympathy to Barb, Nancy and family on the loss of Gib. May the memories be a blessing.
Evelyn Vincent
To Barb and family
Sincere sympathy in your great loss. Gib contributed so much to Exeter and area. He will be missed.
RON AND GLENDA
Barb, Gib Jr. Jim, Nancy and Don
Gib lived a Great Life and will be missed by many, Exeter lost a little bit of history, Our Sincere Condolences, May he Rest In Peace
Gabbie Mol
Our sincere condolences with Gibs passing Known him for many years Great memories
Don & Joan Heywood
Barb, Gib, Jenn, Jim, Nancy, Don and Families:
So sorry for your loss. Gib was a well respected gentleman. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. Cherish the wonderful memories. Hugs Don & Joan
Michele & Alan Hodgert
I’m thinking of all of you at this sad time. I will fondly remember Gib Sr. and all the long days he spent at Ironwood Golf Course to make it what it is today.
Michele Hodgert & Family
Mark Heimrich
Barb, Gib Jr., Jen, Jim, Nancy, Don & all Gib’s family & friends;
Our sincere sympathy to you all. I have many fond memories of good and “lively” chats with Gib over the years. We have appreciated having Gib as a valued customer as well. How fitting it was to hear of his passing while attending the ABCA Conservation Dinner last night. South Huron is a much better place because of his generous contributions in so many ways We have certainly lost an important pillar of our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time;
Mark (& Julie) Heimrich & Staff of Lifetime Water Products Canada Inc.
Bev and Mike Quinn
Barb and family, we are so very sorry to hear of Gib’s passing. He was such a generous man, a loving husband and devoted family man. May God bless you all in these difficult times.
Kathy Hayter
I am so sorry of the passing of Gib..keep your memories close to your heart
Sharon Passmore
Barb and Family
So sorry to hear of Gib’s passing. He was a wonderful person and I know Dave always enjoyed his visits with Gib when he was fixing a problem at Ironwood or at the house. May the many memories you have of Gib help ease your sorrows in the coming days.
Irvine R Armstrong
Barb and family. I was sorry to hear of Gibs death he has a wonderful legacy left behind that he enjoyed very much. Barb, my thoughts are with you at this time and God bless you .Irv
Cathy Preston
Thinking of you all! Ian and I have such fond memories of Gib senior. Character is the first word that jumps to mind. Loving, astute and fun are others. This is the worst thing about living – loved ones leave us and a gaping hole. Wish we could be there to pay our condolences and respect in person but sadly can’t. Please give a special hug and hello to Barb and we will definitely seek her out at IW this summer – hopefully play nine. Thoughts and big hugs. Cathy and Ian and family
Audrey Dakin
Barb, Nancy & Gib;
Our sincerest condolences.
Audrey (Adkins) & Peter Dakin
Tom and Carol Arthur
Barb and Family
Tom and I extend our sincere sympathy to all of you. Our thoughts are with you.