LaCrosse Tribune
LaCrosse WI

Tuesday, February 19, 2002

 

BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. - Nila Jo Silbaugh, 71, of Black River Falls died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2002, in Pine View Care Center, Black River Falls.
The former Nila Jo Ping was born Dec. 11, 1930, in Mattoon, Ill., to Ray and Mildred (Stackhouse) Ping. At the age of 12, she moved with her family to La Crosse. She graduated from La Crosse Central High School and later from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Nila Jo married Ivan Silbaugh Jr. on Feb. 9, 1951, in La Crosse. The couple first lived in Milwaukee and moved to Black River Falls in 1955. Ivan Silbaugh Jr. died on Jan. 14, 1998.
Nila Jo was employed as a pre-school teacher in Taylor, Wis., and as a kindergarten teacher at the Hixton Elementary School. In later years, she was employed as a substitute teacher in the Black River Falls school district. She had also been employed as a teacher's aide in La Crosse and Sparta, Wis.
Nila Jo was a member of the Black River Falls United Methodist Church and its prayer group, the United Methodist Women, Clio Club, the Merrillan chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Black River Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Birthday Club. She had sung in the United Methodist Church choir for many years.
Nila Jo had many hobbies including writing poetry, various crafts, creating chalk drawings, making party favors and May Day baskets, collecting plants for her terrarium, quilts, making candied violets and working on genealogy. She enjoyed her grandchildren and wildflowers. Nila Jo also was an avid collector of china cups, spoons, antique postcards and antique, handblown Christmas tree ornaments. She was especially proud to have been instrumental in the reconstruction of Perry Creek Park after the flood of 1993.
Survivors include a daughter, Susan (Gary) Corbisier of La Crosse; a son, David Silbaugh of Milwaukee; five grandchildren, Sarah and Aaron Corbisier, both of La Crosse, Tina Kortness and Nicole Silbaugh, both of Black River Falls, and Heather Silbaugh of Madison; three brothers, Ray (Diane) Ping Jr. of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Charles (Rosemary) Ping of Anniston, Ala.; and Ron (Jane) Ping of Orlando, Fla.; and special friends, Dahlia and Frank Rivas and their sons, Robert and David, of Warrens, Wis.
In addition to her husband, Nila Jo was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, both in Black River Falls. The Rev. Thomas Dunham will officiate.
Friends may call at the Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls today from 6 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. There will be an Order of the Eastern Star service at 8 p.m. today in the funeral home.
Memorials may be given to the Parkinson's Disease