Gerald Hulslander

1925 - 2026

Gerald Hulslander
Born: August 12, 1925 in Geneseo, IL
Died: January 25, 2026 in Ottawa, IL
Gerald Hulslander, a long-time resident of Ottawa, IL passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Gerald was born to Earl and Bertha (Petersen) Hulslander on August 12, 1925 in Geneseo, IL. His early years were spent in farm country with his older sister Marjorie and younger brother Curtis. Before and after classes at the one-room Hulslander school and Geneseo High School, he worked in the local dairy delivering milk.
As the US entered WWII, Gerald enlisted in the Navy and at the age of 17 trained as a Torpedoman. Much of his service was spent in the Pacific theatre aboard the USS McNair, a Fletcher class destroyer. During the invasion of the Philippines, his ship led the battleship USS West Virginia into Leyte Gulf, a memory that never left him.
After the war, Gerald furthered his education at the University of Illinois in Champaign. While pursuing a degree in Agriculture, he met and married the love of his life, Jean (Muntz). Gerald accepted a job as Fieldman with the Farm Bureau Service and moved to Paw Paw, IL where they started their family of four children. Another move brought them to Ottawa where they joined Trinity Lutheran Church and made life-long friends. Gerald served there as usher, lector and council member for many years.
His love of story-telling and history led to numerous family camping trips across the US where he stopped at every roadside marker, point of interest and scenic overlook along the highways. Gerald also organized trips with area farmers, taking them via bus or train to learn about farming in other parts of the Midwest and beyond. The story-telling continued when he had a talk show on local radio WCMY with fellow historian Ron Slack discussing county seats, one-room school houses and more. He and Jean also spent hours bringing Ag in the Classroom to schools in Chicago, impressing the students with ears of homegrown field corn and popcorn, stalks of rhubarb and rhubarb cakes. Other stories were shared in the Civil War Roundtable, the LaSalle County Historical Society Museum and Utica Burgoo Festival.
Jean and Gerald's home was always open to friends, children of friends, and friends of their own children. Visitors would be told stories and jokes while eating a hot meal or plates of cookies. His quick wit was often greeted with both laughter and groans.
Gerald moved to Pleasant View Lutheran Home in 2022 after health issues made it hard to live on his own. There he found a new audience for his stories and he entertained staff and residents often with his harmonica. He could always be counted on to help new residents acclimate and assist others with dining.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother, his wife Jean and eldest daughter Ellen (White). He is survived by his son David (Betsy) Hulslander, daughter Carol Kennedy (Ray Klein), daughter Sarah Hulslander, proxy-daughter Sue Williamson, and Aussie son Barry (Ann-Louise) Richardson. He is further survived by foster children Rob (Sunny) Smeets, Diane Lewis and Roger (Val) Smeets.
He considered himself blessed with eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly and was extremely proud of.
The family would like to thank the staff of OSF Hospital and the Hospice Care team for their kindness to Gerald in his last days. They especially thank the staff and 4th Floor care team at Pleasant View for their care, concern, patience and love for him over his years there.
Visitation will be at Trinity Lutheran Church 717 Chambers St in Ottawa on Sunday, February 1 at 1:30pm with funeral services to follow at 3:00pm. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral home in Ottawa.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Swenson Fund at Trinity Lutheran Church of Ottawa or the University of Illinois Ag Alumni Association.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433.