Jack White has announced that his beloved brother Edward died over the weekend.
The White Stripes frontman posted a touching tribute on social media, letting fans know that his brother Edward “Eddie” Gillis had passed away, leaving behind a wife and two children.
“The world lost a beautiful soul today,” Jack, 51, wrote in a caption to a photo of his late brother playing an electric guitar, which he shared on Saturday, October 24. “My brother Edward Gerard Gillis has crossed over to heaven this morning after fighting a long battle with cancer.”
John Anthony Gillis, known professionally as Jack White, is the youngest of ten siblings and spoke candidly about the impact of his loss.
“Ed was such a caring, funny, and generous person that everyone loved,” Jack reflected. “He was a devoted husband to Angie and the father of two wonderful children, Amelia and Garrett. He would have many of us laughing and even nearly falling out of our chairs at times.”
During the years leading up to his passing, Eddie ran Third Man Pressing, a boutique vinyl-record pressing operation, and was also an acclaimed pastry chef, Jack shared.
“He did so much while he was here,” Jack wrote, adding that Eddie had long carried a reputation for musicality within their family.
“In his youth, Eddie served as the family guitarist as we were growing up while I played drums, and he was simply outstanding at the instrument,” he recalled. “I was fortunate to make music with him at various points in our lives.”
Concluding with a touching recollection of lessons his “big brother” taught him over the years, Jack offered Eddie a final blessing.
“He taught me so many wonderful and simple things over the years that I’ll never forget; how to string a guitar, how to fish on the Detroit River, how to drive a stick shift,” Jack wrote. “He was an amazing big brother to me and I hate to see him go, but I’m grateful he is at peace. God bless you, Eddie.”
