Jack Gillum

Jack D. Gillum, 92, passed away November 19th, 2013 after a brief illness. He was born in Chico on June 4th, 1921 to Daniel & Zoe Gillum. He was raised in Chico, where he attended local schools & graduated from Chico High School in 1939. Jack joined the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the 105th General Hospital and saw combat in the Philippines. After being discharged from the Army, he married Perle Ludy on June 10th, 1946. He obtained a bachelor's degree from the San Francisco School of Mortuary Science and started his 50 year career with Brusie Funeral Home, which included the early days of providing ambulance services to the Chico area. He thoroughly enjoyed his profession, as well as his close ties with the medical and law enforcement agencies through his deputy coroner status. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Jack spent much of his off time being "on call" for emergencies, yet would find the time to escape to their family cabin in Chester. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching his nieces & nephews the art of trout fishing along Deer Creek. After retiring, Jack continued to be active in the community volunteering at the Special Olympics and as an official at the Silver Dollar Fair. He would faithfully plant a vegetable garden every year and proudly shared his abundance of tomatoes and onions with his many friends and family. He enjoyed reading western novels and studying local history, with his latest interest being the raising of honey bees with a long time friend. Jack would monitor his scanner every day in order to keep up with local emergency events. Jack was preceded in death by his wife Perle, his brothers Jessie, Robert and Donald Gillum. He is survived by nieces Corrine, Nancy, Betsy Leslie Gillum and Cheryl Ludy, his nephews Michael and Patrick Gillum and Walter Ludy, as well as several grand nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at Brusie Funeral Home on Monday, November 25, 2013 at 10am with interment following at Marvin Chapel Cemetery in Afton, Calif. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the Special Olympics.