Fairbury – Shirley Jean Kilgus, 78, of Fairbury, passed away at 12:30pm, Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa.

Her funeral will be held at 10:00am, Monday, November 7, 2016, at Gridley Apostolic Christian Church. Ministers of the church will be officiating.

Burial will be in Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation will be held from 2-6:00pm, Sunday, November 6, 2016, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9-9:45am, Monday, November 7, 2016 at the church.

Memorials may be made to Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury or Southeastern Livingston County Ambulance Service.

Mrs. Kilgus was born August 1, 1938, in Bloomington the daughter of Arthur and Mabel Fehr Bowald.

She first married Ed Zimmerman on December 11, 1960, in Roanoke. He passed away February 4, 1994. She then married John Kilgus on August 31, 1996. He survives.

Also surviving are her children, Kari (Jeff) Kamrath of Forrest, Jon (Diane) Zimmerman of Fairbury; step-sons, Tom (Pam) Kilgus of Forrest and Joe Kilgus of Bloomington; four grandchildren, Jason (Brett Robinson) Kamrath, Harrison (Kate) Kamrath, Stephanie and Leslie Zimmerman; five step-grandchildren, Dayton (Joni) Kilgus, Hayley Kintner, Josh Maubach, Abby and Jacob Kilgus; four great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dwayne Bowald of East Peoria and Donald Bowald of Peoria.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Sharon Remmert, Bonnie Beenders, and Sharlane Donaldson.

Mrs. Kilgus was a member of the Gridley Apostolic Christian Church. She was a 4-H Leader, Boy Scout Den Mother, and started the Fairbury TOPS Club in 1969.

She enjoyed gardening, canning, and traveling. Shirley most enjoyed her family, church and celebrating family birthdays.