Rodney O. Wilshusen

Rodney ‘Rod’ O. Wilshusen, age 75, of Amherst, passed away Monday, February 9, 2026, at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery (23615 Daykin Road, 1/8th of a mile North of the intersection of Daykin Road and 235th Road, Amherst, Ne) with Pastor Nicholas Whitney officiating. Please dress casually, if you like, wear your bibs in Rod’s honor. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 12th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements. Rodney was born in Kearney Ne on Sept 9th, 1950, to Orville and Melva (Jones) Wilshusen. Rod lived in Hastings Ne during his high school years due to the death of his parents. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1968 and then attended Curtis ag school for a year. He then returned to Hastings and worked at the Meat Animal Research Center as a cowboy. During his time in Hastings, he met Rhonda Snow. They were united in marriage on October 2, 1971, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst Ne. Together they made their home on his parent’s family farm west of Amherst. In this union they had 2 children – Steve and Bart. On the farm they raised crops, cattle, hogs and even ran a dairy. Rod also worked at Eaton during this time retiring after 30 years of service. Retirement did not slow Rod down and he opened The Gun Barn. Through this venture he entertained numerous customers from all around. This brought him immense joy and created the most wonderful friends. Rod had many visitors during business hours and after. He never knew a stranger. Rod and Rhonda had many adventures together throughout nearly 55 years together. Left to cherish his memory is his wife Rhonda of Amherst, sons Steve (Jolynn) of Hastings, Ne and Bart of Burns, Wy; his grandchildren Dayne and Marilyn Kenzie and his trusty dog family Toby and Hank. Rod was preceded in death by his parents, brother Lloyd and many aunts and uncles.

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Rodney O. Wilshusen

September 9, 1950 - February 9, 2026