07/30/2026
Rest in peace, Jeanne Gibson one of our last living Rosie the Riveters who passed away July 29, 2026. She left home in Minnesota at 18 in 1944, became a welder at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, and helped build the destroyers that carried the fight in WWII. Later served with the Army Transportation Corps in Alaska.
She went on to earn her Ph.D., teach for 30 years, and get her private pilot’s license. In 2024 she and her fellow Rosies received the Congressional Gold Medal. Jeanne spent her later years making sure no one forgot what the Home Front women did. She inspired kids, especially young girls, and kept showing up for the mission until the very end. 100 years of grit, service, and quiet strength.
Thank you for answering the call, Jeanne. We won’t forget. 🕊️🇺🇸
Rosie the Riveter wasn’t one woman—she became the face of millions of American women who answered the call during World War II.
When men left to serve overseas, women stepped into factories, shipyards, and machine shops, taking on jobs many believed they couldn’t do. They built airplanes, tanks, ships, and the equipment that helped secure victory. More importantly, they proved that determination, skill, and courage have nothing to do with gender.
For many women, this was the first time they earned their own paycheck, mastered skilled trades, and experienced a new sense of independence. Although many were expected to return to traditional roles after the war, the impact of their work could not be erased.
Rosie the Riveter became more than a wartime icon—she became a symbol of resilience, opportunity, and the belief that women belong wherever their talents take them.
The generations of women who followed have continued building on that legacy, breaking barriers in business, science, education, public service, the military, and countless other fields.
Today, we honor the women who rolled up their sleeves, challenged expectations, and helped change the course of history. Their strength didn’t just help win a war—it helped shape a future where more women could dream bigger, reach higher, and know their worth.
💪 We Can Do It wasn’t just a slogan. It was a promise that continues to inspire generations.
❤️ Thank you, Rosie—and thank you to every woman whose courage helped pave the way for those who came after.
