Frances I. Slusher

Frances I. (Anderson) Slusher was born on April 1, 1918 in Rockwell City, Iowa, one of four children of Clyde and Anna (Birner) Anderson. She graduated from Rockwell City High School in 1936. She married Russell Brewer, and they became parents of two daughters. He preceded her in death. Frances then married Donald James “Don” Slusher. They made their home in Forest City, Missouri before he passed away in 1998. Frances later moved to Madison, Wisconsin where she passed away at her home on February 17, 2014. Frances worked at the Beech aircraft plant in Liberal, Kansas during WW II, where she negotiated for higher wages for the factory workers. She became a bookkeeper for the Liberal, Kansas COOP and later worked as a bookkeeper in Washington, D.C. and in Florida. She was a lifetime member of United Methodist Churches in Liberal, Forest City, and Madison. As a member of the Bethany United Methodist Church she made ponchos for senior citizens, and made scarves and gave blankets to the homeless. She also decorated pillowcases for orphans in India. Frances loved to garden, and her backyard looked like a place in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. She was a champion iris grower and also liked lilies, roses, dahlias and tomatoes. Wherever she settled, a beautiful garden was soon to follow. In addition to her husbands, Frances was also preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Anna (Birner) Anderson; daughter, Beverly Brewer; and brothers, Clyde and Robert Anderson. She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Brewer of Madison, Wisconsin; grandsons and their spouses, Tom (Marianna) Gernetzke of Belleville, Wisconsin and James (Julie) Gernetzke of Omaha, Nebraska; sister, Beverly Clark of Ankeny, Iowa; and six great grandchildren. As a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, Frances will be missed for her gentle and kind personality. Family visitation was held on Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Chamberlain Funeral Home in Oregon, followed by graveside services and interment at 11:00 am at Maple Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Women.