Shelley K. Hilker

Shelley K. Hilker, age 61, of Kearney, passed away Friday, August 6, 2021, at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 12, 2021, at the First Lutheran Church in Kearney with the Reverends Dr. Rick and Dr. Michelle Carlson officiating. Burial will follow at the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Shelley Kay (Walters) Hilker was born on June 4, 1960, to Don and Lois Walters in Omaha, Nebraska. She graduated from Kearney Senior High with the class of 1978. She then attended Kearney State College and earned her degree in Interior Design. On November 27, 1982, she married Brad Hilker. On April 9th, 1986, they welcomed their daughter Kelsey Jo. Shelley worked at Builders Warehouse in Kearney for many years. During her years at Builders, she had several different roles but she eventually found her ideal job in helping people design their dream kitchens. When she wasn’t working she enjoyed planting flowers, decorating their home, and spending time with family, especially her two granddaughters. She loved her family above all else. For most of her adult life Shelley battled many health issues. Through these battles she taught us about perseverance. Because of this, she was one of the toughest people we had ever known. Survivors include husband Brad Hilker; daughter and son-in-law Kelsey and Andy Ostrander; granddaughters Kaylynn and Brynlie Ostrander; sisters Sharla (Jim) Mruz and Shari Walters; mother-in-law Irene Hilker; sister-in-laws Darla (Patrick) Haight, Cindy (Doug) Treffer, and Lisa (Roger) Thaut; nieces and nephews Andrew Mruz, Julia (Tom) Hoyt, Nicole (Nicholas) Herzog, Patrick Mruz, Nicholas Walters, Tina, Jeff, Sean, and Darin Haight, Athena Pace, Kayla Carver, and Austin Thaut. She was preceded in death by her father and mother Don and Lois Walters, Brother and Sister-in-law Mike and Jill Walters, Father-in-law Bill Hilker, and Brother-in-law Mick Hilker

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Shelley K. Hilker

June 4, 1960 - August 6, 2021