The lawyers and staff of Barnes & Thornburg are mourning the loss of our retired partner, Miles C. Gerberding, who passed away on Oct. 28, 2015.
He joined Barnes & Thornburg in 1986 and started the firm’s Fort Wayne, Indiana, office. He was the leader of the Fort Wayne office for several years. During his distinguished Indiana legal career, Miles was a highly regarded tax and business lawyer in the state. In 1997, after practicing law for 41 years, Miles retired from Barnes & Thornburg.
Miles represented closely held businesses and assisted individuals with transfer tax planning and succession planning for businesses. He was a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, the American College of Trust and Estates Counsel, the American Bar Foundation and the Indiana Bar Foundation. He was a past president of the Indiana State Bar Association and chaired its sections on taxation and business law. Miles also chaired the Indiana delegation to the American Bar Association House of Delegates for seven years and served in the House for 16 years.
Miles received his degree in economics and business law from Indiana University and his J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Prior to becoming an attorney, Miles served in the United States Marine Corps from 1950 to 1952.
He served as president and director of numerous community, cultural, charitable and educational organizations and chaired the United Way campaign for Allen County. As an avid aviator, Miles, who learned to fly in the 1970s, flew until the age of 84. It was his one true hobby.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.
The visitation and funeral service were held on Nov. 2 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfort, Michigan.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Frankfort, Michigan; Lutheran Camp Association Foundation, Arcadia, Michigan; Concordia Educational Foundation, Fort Wayne, Indiana; or Indiana University Maurer School of Law Fund, c/o Indiana University Foundation, Bloomington, Indiana.
