Shirley Ilene Huslig, 93, passed away May 20, 2019. On Wednesday, May 29th there will be a visitation at 10:30 a.m. and a 11:00 a.m. Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 8311 W 93rd St., Overland Park, Kansas with burial at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 83rd and Quivira Road. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association, 7285 West 132nd Street, Ste. 160, Overland Park, Kansas 66213.
Ilene was born in her maternal grandparents’ home to Harlan and Bertha Killough in Guide Rock, Nebraska. She grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska; and upon graduating from high school, she took a train with two friends to Denver, Colorado. The time was during World War II. She found a job working on B-29’s earning her the proud label of “Rosy the Riveter.”
One day while riding bikes in the city park with a friend, she met a soldier from Lowry Air Force Base, Wilbert “Bill” Huslig. They dated and got engaged. When the war ended, they married and moved to Wichita, Kansas. They started their married life delivering newspapers together. Then Bill went to business college on the GI bill, and interviewed with John Deere. The manager recognized the Huslig name, and knowing the family as hardworking, ethical workers hired him on the spot.
In 1960 the family moved to Kansas City where Ilene worked as a secretary at Federal Crop Insurance. When she retired, she traveled with her husband to Europe, China, Hawaii and all the states in mainland U.S.A. She also volunteered at Overland Park Regional Hospital.
Ilene will be remembered by her four children – Michael, Richard, Teresa, and Robert, and three grandchildren –Justin, Sara, and John.
