Bobbi Jean Silvernail, who worked as an anchor and reporter for WHO and WOI in Des Moines, died suddenly on Sunday. She was 38.
Known to Iowa viewers as Bobbi Bergman, Silvernail worked as an anchor at NBC-affiliate WHO from 1999 to 2002. She joined ABC-affiliate WOI in 2005, working as a reporter and weekend anchor there until 2008.
On Saturday morning, Silvernail began suffering from shortness of breath, according to WHO, and eventually stopped breathing completely.
Silvernail’s husband, John Brunscheon told the Des Moines Register that a specific cause of death is pending an autopsy.
“She was an old-school reporter with a real passion for journalism,” WOI news director Scott Frederick recalled. “I’ve been in the business for 25 years, and she is one of the most determined, dogged reporters I ever met. You knew you had a good story when you gave an assignment to her.”
Here’s video of Silvernail reporting for WHO following 9/11…
(More WHO video is available here).
Funeral services are set for Wednesday in Ames.