The family of Sherman E. Silbaugh of Humboldt, IA announces his passing, and invites all who knew him to remember him here.
What follows is not the whole story, but a thread of it.
Sherman held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
Sherman stood in service when he was needed; that, too, is a kind of legacy.
Sherman Eugene Silbaugh was born on November 23, 1930 to Elmer and Jessie (Sayre) Silbaugh in Green County near Scranton, Iowa and passed away into eternal peace Friday, May 1, 2026 at Shalom Park Nursing Home in Colorado with his family at the age of 95 years.Sherman was the youngest of 10 children. His father died when Sherman was six. The family moved to Linden in Dallas County where he and his brother Norman farmed. He graduated in 1947 from Linden High School. He played basketball and was the school bus driver for their team. When his brother Norman died in 1947 they sold the farm. Him and his mother moved to Humboldt.Sherman worked with his brothers Paul and Foster at Silbaugh Manufacturing Company in Humboldt as a machinist and tool dye maker. He then later worked with his brother Paul at Gunder Church Furniture in Dakota City for over 30 years as plant manager until his retirement in 1995. During that time he honorably served in the Army National Guard 1951 to 1952 training in Camp McCoy, WI and then stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict.He officially joined the Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department on December 16, 1952 and was a member for 43 years and served as Fire Chief for 25 Years, longer than anyone in the department’s history. The firefighters he served with was his brotherhood. It was the most honorable position he ever held and took it very seriously serving his community for so many years.He met the love of his life, Virigina May Bratland at the Hotel Humboldt Café when he went for coffee and were married 6 months later on June 27, 1954 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottoson, Iowa. The couple made their home in Humboldt as members of Congregational Church of Christ raising three children Vicky, Rodney and Zoe. They spent their weekends for decades camping at Iowa Lake with their family and friends. He enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling and especially the two of them traveling across the US on their motorcycle. At retirement they became snowbirds in Mesa, Arizona for over 10 years. They then made their way back home to Humboldt full-time enjoying the grandkids and their absolute favorite pastime driving everywhere around town. It then came time needing extra care by their youngest daughter in Colorado because of both having Dementia.Sherman is survived by his wife, Virginia of almost 72 years; daughter Zoe (Rick) Sawyer of Elizabeth, Colorado; seven grandchildren: Quentin Kocher, Vanya (Jeremiah) Miller, Lucas (Divya) Silbaugh, Cassie McCloud, Lance (Natalie) Silbaugh, Jessie (Garrett) Motsenbocker, Justin (Samantha) Sawyer; twenty great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews; sister-in-law Dorothy (Bratland) Dale. He Is preceded in death by his parents, all his brothers and sisters; Daughter Vicky and Son Rod.Funeral Services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 15th at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Humboldt. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14th at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral & Cremation Service in Humboldt. Burial with military and fire department honors will be in Union Cemetery, Humboldt. www.masonlindhart.com
