ELLINWOOD — Leverne N. Huslig, 96, was called to Eternal Life by his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.
Born Feb. 10, 1924 (on a Sunday) to Leo Huslig and Mary (Boor) Huslig on a farm near Hitschmann, Kan., Leverne was the oldest of eight children. The Huslig family moved to a farm near Fowler, Kan. and farmed in that area until 1939, when they later moved in to Fowler. Leverne graduated from St. Anthony’s Catholic School and Fowler High School.
Upon graduation from Fowler High School, Leverne was drafted and served our country in World War II as the flight engineer on the B-24 freighter version, flying “The Hump” in the CBI (China, Burma, India) Theatre. These flights primarily carried aviation fuel from India over the Himalayas in 55-gallon drums to fuel the Allied fighter planes fighting the Japanese in China, as well as supplies and other cargo.
After his service in the Air Force was completed, Leverne had purchased his bus ticket and was headed to Kansas City to be a mechanic for TWA airlines when he was “persuaded” by his Aunt Mary Kinzel to join his cousin, Steve Kinzel, in farming south of Scott City, Kan. The rest is history and Leverne continued farming until his death for over 70 years in Scott and Lane Counties.
He married Marilee T. Feist on Oct. 9, 1948 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church. They spent their first winter together in Great Bend and then moved to the farm in Scott County during the summer. After their son, John, was born, they returned to Ellinwood where they lived in the same house on Third Street for the rest of their lives.
He was a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus and the Hump Pilots Association.
Leverne is survived by his children John (Betty), Alexandria, Va., Jeff (Terri), Ellinwood, Kan., Bennett (Adele Komarek), Ellinwood, Kan., Daniel, Austin, Texas, and Laura Jones (Tom), Annapolis, Md.; 16 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; his brother, Hugo (Connie) Huslig, Wichita, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilee; his son, Gene; his daughter, Elva; his sisters, Marion Sandlin and Florene Miller; and his brothers, Bernard, Melvin, Elmer, and Donald.
Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood. A Parish Rosary/Vigil will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Leverne will be laid to rest next to his wife, Marilee, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery north of Ellinwood, Kan. Memorials are suggested to Sts. Peter and Paul Church and the American Legion in care of Minnis Chapel, P. O. Box 246, Ellinwood, Kansas 67526.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel
P. O. Box 246
Ellinwood, KS 67526
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 19, 2020
