Elaine E. Heussman

Elaine Heussman, 88, of Atwood, died Sunday, May 25, 2025. She was the first-born daughter of Fred and Grayce Stute and was born in her grandmother’s home in Haigler, Nebraska, on February 18, 1937. She would later be joined by 4 sisters: Carol, Judy, Cathy, and Lori. Two brothers died in infancy.

Elaine graduated from Haigler High School in 1954 and continued her education, graduating from McCook Junior College two years later. She accepted an elementary teaching job in Danbury, Nebraska, and taught kindergarten and first grade. The next year, she moved to Colby, Kansas, teaching first grade for 2 years. Elaine took classes from Ft. Hays State University and Colorado State College during the summers for three years. She then accepted a job at the First National Bank in Wray, Colorado, and worked there until she married Gerald Heussman on April 4, 1959.

They made their home on the Heussman farmstead and took over the operation when his father retired. Two daughters, Jill and Jan, blessed this marriage. Elaine worked alongside her husband raising wheat, milo, and hay. They also operated a cow-calf herd. Elaine was a substitute teacher for the Atwood Schools until 2004.

In 1999, their daughter Jan and her husband Sam Crouse moved to Kansas. Gerald and Elaine built their retirement home in Atwood. Gerald continued to work on the farm with Sam until his death on July 6th, 2005.

Elaine was a member of Grace and Redeemer Lutheran Churches in Atwood for all her married life. She was a choir director there for 30 years and also taught Sunday School and Midweek classes. She was a member of LWML and served on various offices of the organization and in the church.

She was a member of different clubs in the community which she enjoyed very much: Kaffee Clatch Craft club, Young Farm Wives, Theta Kappa, PTO Chapter AX, Tally Bridge, Ace High Bridge, Coffee & Cookies Bridge, and two Pinochle clubs.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Gerald, grandsons Ben Crouse and Clarence (Jay) Harden, her sister Carol, two brothers, Freddie and Carl, her parents, and parent-in-laws. Survivors are daughters Jill and husband Jim Harden, Jan Crouse and husband, Sam Crouse, five grandsons, John Harden and wife Jordan, Jack Harden, Max Mickunas and wife Sydney, Will Crouse, Pete Crouse, one granddaughter, Amy Crouse, and granddaughter-in-law, Martha Harden, Jay’s wife. She is also survived by six precious great grandchildren; Elaine and C.J. Harden, Hays and Lucy Harden, Birkleigh and Presleigh Mickunas, her sisters; Judy Lutticken, Cathy Powell, and husband Gary, Lori Sadowski, and husband Vince, plus many nieces and nephews also survive her.

There will be a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atwood. A lunch will follow the service. Memorials can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood Second Century or The ACE Foundation USD 105 Buffalo Strong Fund and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com

The service will be livestreamed at Redeemer Lutheran Atwood Kansas Facebook page.