Gilbert Earnest Brinckerhoff

Gilbert Brinckerhoff

Gilbert Earnest Brinckerhoff, a long-time Niobrara resident and retired farmer, died last Thursday at the Niobrara Memorial Hospital following a prolonged illness.

Gilbert was born August 26, 1888, at Bassett, Neb., the first son of Alonzo and Almeda Brinckerhoff. He was reared on a homestead in Rock County, Neb., near the Niobrara River. He started school at the Cuba Community School. He attended high school in Bassett and continued his education with two years of agriculture college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 25, 1918, in the 10th Ammunition Trained-Company F where he achieved the rank of private and served eleven months before the Company was dissolved because the armistice was signed.

On June 15, 1938, he married Velma Newcomb Sawyer in Kimball, Neb. They made their home in the Divide Community before retiring to a home in Lusk in 1963. While living in Lusk he was engaged in a lawn service for many years.

He was an active member of the First Baptist Church since 1949. He served as a deacon, trustee and also an usher in the church. He was a member of the men's fellowship with special interest in Camp Wyoba where he participated in the State Men's Baptist Fellowship.

He was a member of the American Legion Post #4 of Lusk where he was active until recent years.

The Rev. Lawrence Kelly officiated at memorial service at Peet Mortuary Chapel Monday. Minerva Watson was organist and a quartet composed of Betty Mogan, Edna DeCastro, Rick Vollmar, and Johnnie Thon sang.

Active bearers were Everett Kilmer, Melvin ZumBrunnen, Ray Taylor, Lee James, Richard James and Chuck Heumier. Honorary bearers were all his friends.

Interment was in the Lusk Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the First Baptist Church.

Mr. Brinckerhoff was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mary Sherman and Anna Smythe.

He is survived by his wife Velma of Lusk; two daughters, Mrs. Diana McGrew of Denver and Mrs. Betty Smith of Englewood, Colo.; one son-in-law, Gene McGrew of Denver; two sisters, Almeda Conrad, Flagstaff, Ariz. and Mrs. Crystal Bates of Fresno, Calif.; two brothers: John of Nebraska City, Nebr. and Morris of Walla Walla, Wash.; three grandsons: David, Michael and Timothy McGrew of Denver; many nephews and nieces.

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