Mildred Heusel

Mildred Heusel, 95 Kearney resident, formerly of Gibbon Mildred “Milly” Heusel, 95, of Kearney formerly of Gibbon, died Sunday, May 3, 2015 at St. Luke’s Good Samaritan Village in Kearney. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Shelton United Methodist Church with the Rev. Melody Adams officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are designated to the church, the American Cancer Society or the Gibbon Education Foundation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Gibbon is in charge of arrangements. Mildred Freeman Heusel was born October 30, 1919 in Lincoln, Nebraska to George and Josephine (Neubauer) Freeman. She spent her childhood in Lincoln until she graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1941. After receiving a teaching degree, she taught English and girls Physical Education at Broken Bow and Aurora, NE until her marriage to Gerald “Gary” Heusel on May 30, 1943. They lived on a farm North-east of Gibbon, NE all their married lives and raised a family of five daughters. In 1956, Mildred attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney to renew her teaching certification. She taught school one year at District 22 near Gibbon before accepting a position with Gibbon Public Schools in 1957. Here she taught second grade for three years before again attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney to study Library Science. In 1960, she became the school Librarian, and also taught English and girls Physical Education. She served as president of the Gibbon Education Association in 1959, and remained in the Gibbon Public School system until her retirement in 1975. After her retirement from teaching, she devoted much time to assisting her husband with the auction service. She was especially interested in antiques. Mildred spent her summers helping Gary farm, irrigating crops, cleaning weeds out of beans and driving the tractor to plow and disc the fields. Mildred was a lover of nature – especially birds, and she kept then well fed. Mildred enjoyed gardening and raising flowers. She also loved music and studied vocal music at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She devoted her talents to directing the Ravenna Zion Methodist Church Choir for many years. Traveling was a great joy to her and they visited Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England and Scotland. She especially enjoyed guided bus tours. Other hobbies were sewing little dresses for grandchildren, quilt making, and crocheting rag rugs. Many of these rugs can be found in the homes of relatives and friends. Mildred was a member of the Shelton United Methodist Church, and was president of Circle 3 of United Methodist Women. She sang in the church choir until throat problems prevented this activity. Survivors include her daughters, Joy Livingston of Gibbon, Sherry Krell of Kearney and Wendy Meyer of Jacksonville, FL.; her grandchildren, Jeff Livingston, Lorna Livingston, Lath Livingston, Cobey Krell, Rochelle Morris, Sarah Alkire, Alicia Johnson, Brandy Atchison, Ann LeFiles. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Gary; parents, George and Josephine Freeman; daughters, Cathy Crisp and Becky Empie; brother, Arthur Freeman; sisters, Hester Cronquist, Ruth Vaughn and Fern Freeman; a son-in-law, George Livingston.

Mildred Heusel

October 30, 1919 - May 3, 2015