Dr. Bruce Silverberg, 69, of Stilwell, Kansas, passed on May 27.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at Pleasant Valley Cemetery (9501 159th St Overland Park, KS 66221).
Bruce was born on June 9, 1954, to Raymond and the late Joan Silverberg in St. Louis, Missouri. Growing up, he was the oldest of four siblings and was intelligent, competitive and had a wild streak. In high school, he excelled as an athlete, a trumpet player, and, of course, as an academic, graduating at the top of his class of roughly 700 students.
Although Bruce loved music and aimed to be a musician, his mother strongly encouraged him to become a doctor, filling out his medical school application. He was accepted into the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine immediately after high school, where he earned his medical degree. Bruce then completed residencies in general surgery, plastic surgery and microvascular hand surgery at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis; the University of Chicago; and the University of Kentucky. Bruce’s dedication to his medical practice served to be more than a career but rather a lifestyle. His precise performance of life-altering surgeries brought thousands of patients healing, comfort and hope.
Bruce’s profession also brought him to Joplin, Missouri, where he met Shamshinur, his loving wife of the past 19 years. Bruce and Shamshinur created a beautiful home together where they enjoyed hosting friends and family, bonded over music and movies, explored different cultures and traversed the different facets of spirituality.
While Bruce found much fulfillment in his life, he also prided himself in creating a large family. Bruce’s children hold numerous memories of him, each unique to their own lives and personalities. Although each of his children can share different stories of Bruce, all will forever envision him relaxing in the basement on the leather couch or feet up in a reclining chair, petting his beloved animals with a tiny scent of Marlboro Reds lingering in air. Bruce had a different way of expressing love than most, but his children will all be forever grateful for the random stories and pieces of advice their dad seemed to sprinkle throughout conversations.
Bruce clearly stayed extremely busy, but he absolutely relished the time spent with the amazing friends he collected over the years. His retirement (in 2022) was short lived, yet he thoroughly enjoyed eating at Denny’s with Don; invaluable time spent with Alan; motorcycle and bicycle rides; dining with the ROMEOs club; and sharpening his bowling skills with the crew.
Bruce is survived by his beloved wife, Shamshinur; children, Shawn Silverberg, Carrie Kampschmidt (Luke), Jamie Hess (Brandon), Rachael Silverberg, Michael Silverberg and Sunny Ablatt; father, Raymond Silverberg; brother, Fletcher Silverberg (Gayle); sisters, Rose Rose (Marty) and Anita Silverberg; and grandchildren, Avi, Ava, Kaley, Austin and Genevieve.
Online condolences may be shared at louismemorialchapel.com.
