ARLENE A. WHISLER
Arlene Agnes (Lindsay) Whisler, the only child of Wilber G. and Estella May (Buck) Lindsay, was born February 20, 1930 in Auburn, Nebraska. She was baptized in the Methodist Church in Peru, Nebraska at age 12. Arlene attended rural school through 3rd grade and then attended Peru Prep, where she graduated in 1948.
On April 9, 1949 Arlene was united in marriage to John Dempsey Whisler in Hiawatha, Kansas. They made their home in Peru and were blessed with eleven children: four girls and seven boys.
Arlene was kept busy raising her children and keeping the household running, bur she also worked outside the home. She had worked at the Peru Challenge Newspaper, the Peru State College library, and Ruboshke’s Café in Peru. The career she put her heart into was as a Paraprofessional at the Peru Elementary School where she worked for 19 years, retiring in the spring of 1998.
Arlene was active in her community and church, both in Peru and Auburn. She served as a member and officer in Peru VFW Auxiliary #7299, Evening Guild of Peru Community Church, and the Peru Chamber of Commerce. Arlene transferred her church membership to First United Methodist Church in Auburn where she served as Spiritual Leader in the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday School and Bible School, sang in the church choir, and was in various Bible study groups.
After her husband John passed in 1980 Arlene continued to live in their home in Peru for many years. She later moved to Auburn for many years before becoming a resident of The Ambassador in Nebraska City, Nebraska where she enjoyed other residents, staff, and visits from her family and friends. It was there she passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at the age of 90 years, 11 months, and 8 days. In addition to her husband and her parents, Arlene was preceded in death by her son John Dempsey Whisler, Jr., grandsons John Dempsey Whisler III, Ryan Perry, and Nicholas Whisler, and son-in-law Duane Shannon. Her son-in-law Jack Kuskie passed on May 1, 2021.
Arlene is remembered with love by her daughters and sons-in-law Jackie Kuskie of Central City, Neb.; Judi Shannon of Elma, Wash.; Juanita Whisler of Tacoma, Wash.; Julia and Randy Perry of Peru, Neb.; sons and daughters-in-law Joe and Gloria Whisler of Deepwater, Missouri; Jeff Whisler of Bay City, Texas; Jay and Susan Whisler of Hershey, Neb.; Josh and Jackie Whisler of Peru; Jerry and Suzanne Whisler of Auburn, Neb.; Jack Gene Whisler of Peru; 23 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 31, 2:00 p.m. at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn. Burial of ashes will follow at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Peru. Visitation will be Friday, July 30 at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends 6:30 to 8:00.