Anna Philbrook

Anna Lee Philbrook, 91, passed away on September 5, 2014 at Tudor Oaks Retirement Community in Muskego, Wisconsin. She was born on June 28, 1923 in rural Jamestown, Indiana. Anna and her five siblings grew up during the depression in a small house next to the Old Union Church and Cemetery. The whole family were caretakers for the grounds and very active in the life of the church. Anna graduated from Jamestown High School in 1941 in a class of twelve. Following graduation, Anna attended a business college in Anderson, Indiana and then entered the work force as administrative assistant in an auto manufacturing plant there. Anna married Phillip Carpenter Philbrook in Anderson, Indiana on August 5, 1949 and they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on August 5, 2012. Anna’s husband Phillip was the lead pastor at two American Baptist churches in Indiana from 1948 to 1987, and Anna was very supportive of him and their two children for many years in her role as homemaker and pastor’s wife. Together they served Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Anderson for 13 years and First Baptist Church in Ft. Wayne for 26 years. Anna also did volunteer work at a local hospital and worked as a school library assistant for several years. After retirement from the full time ministry in 1987, Phillip and Anna moved to De Pere, Wisconsin to be closer to their family and grandchildren. They were active members of First United Presbyterian Church of De Pere and moved to Tudor Oaks Retirement Community in Muskego, Wisconsin in March, 2011. They were also summer residents at Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin for many years. Anna Philbrook was a very sweet, caring, and compassionate individual who loved her husband, family, and friends very much. Her priorities were serving God and helping others. She was affectionately referred to as “Meme” by her family and friends. She persevered through some difficult circumstances in life and had a wonderful sense of humor to lighten the load along the way. She enjoyed sports and was a diehard Green Bay Packers and Indiana University Hoosier fan. She had a very long and happy life and was surrounded by the love of many. Anna’s husband Phillip passed away on November 10, 2012. Her parents and five siblings also preceded her in death. She is survived by daughter Cindy Finesilver (Alan) of DePere, Wisconsin; son Stephen (Karen) Philbrook of Mahomet, Illinois; three grandchildren: Matthew Finesilver and his fiancée Jessica Oswald of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Betsy Haberl (Jim) of Evanston, Illinois: Courtney Reynolds (Nathan) of Lansing, Michigan; three great grandchildren: Avione Finesilver, Oliver Haberl, and Archer Reynolds. Also surviving is niece Shirley Jenkins of Jamestown, Indiana who was a close member of the family along with several other nieces and nephews; and brother-in-law Dr. Syd (Rose) Philbrook of LaPorte, Indiana. Visitation will be at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Ave., De Pere, Wisconsin on Friday September 19th from 4PM to 7PM. On Saturday September 20th at First United Presbyterian Church, 605 N. Webster Ave., DePere there will be visitation from 12PM to 2PM followed by a Celebration of Life service at 2PM and reception. Rev. Will Tabb will be officiating. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be given to the First United Presbyterian Church of DePere, Wisconsin, Tudor Oaks Retirement Community in Muskego, Wisconsin, or the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin.