Mary Elizabeth (Shetler) Kirkland

Mary Elizabeth (Shetler) Kirkland, 98, of Geneseo, passed away on January 9, 2022, at Hammond Henry Hospital. Visitation will be held from 12-1:00 PM Friday, January 14, 2022, at Vandemore Funeral Homes and Crematory-Geneseo Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest at Moline Memorial Park. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.vandemorefuneralhome.com/live-stream.  Memorials can be made in her name to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Institute.

Mary was born on July 19, 1923, the daughter of Jonas and Sophia (Wolf) Shetler.  Born in a farmhouse near Illinois City, IL, Mary attended White Lily Grade School.  She graduated from Reynolds High School in 1941.  She married Paul Kirkland at a service in St. Louis in 1942.  Mary worked at Hon Industries and numerous other jobs when she lived in Muscatine, IA.  While working as a secretary for Eckhart, Goedken, and Burns, she graduated from Muscatine Community College.  She was President of the Paddle Wheel chapter of the National Secretary Association.  After moving to the Quad Cities, she retired from John Deere, East Moline, IL, where she worked in the accounting department.  While working there she attended Marycrest College and Blackhawk College.  During her lifetime she always had a garden and enjoyed canning vegetables.  After she retired, her passion was her garden and her beautiful flowers.  Mary spent many enjoyable hours dancing, last at the age of 90.  She was very involved in Town and Country Unit of HCE, holding many positions.  All her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a very special place in her heart.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Gerry (Carol) Kirkland, Rock Hill, SC, Bonnie Browning, Paducah, KY, Karen Franzen, Muscatine, IA, and Marcia (Donald) Ekin, Cambridge, IL, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Jonas and Sophia; her husband, Paul; grandsons, Mike Franzen and Shane Ekin; great-grandson, Darius French; sons-in-law, Wayne Browning and Dellwyn Franzen; siblings Merle Shetler, Anna Brugman, Laura Fuhlman, John Shetler, and Dorothy Shetler; and special friend Stanley Speller.