Ila Jean (Preston) Schluckebier, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother was born October 5, 1920 in Belden, Nebraska, the daughter of J. George and Lillie (Gaskill) Preston. Ila passed away on January 29, 2017 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 96 years, 3 months, 24 days. Ila attended school at Belden and moved to Tamora her senior year where she graduated with the Tamora High School Class of 1937. She attended Wayne State College for two years. On February 12, 1942, Ila was united in marriage to Merle Eugene Schluckebier at the Trenton, New Jersey Methodist Church. Ila taught school at a country school and in Staplehurst while Merle was serving in the U.S. Army during WW II. After Merle returned home from serving his country, Ila became a homemaker. She was an active member of the Seward United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and Bible School for many years and was also a member of United Methodist Women. Ila served on the Tamora Election Board for many years.

Ila was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Merle in 2010; infant brother, Virgil; brother-in-law, Louis Kontos.

Survivors cherishing Ila's memory include her son and daughter-in-law, Lynn and Mary Schluckebier, Seward, her son, Jay Schluckebier, Lincoln, daughter-in-law, Jeralyn Schluckebier, Lincoln, her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Melvin Sich of Thief River Falls, Minnesota; six grandchildren and spouses: Kevin and Carolyn Schluckebier, Benjamin and Jamie Schluckebier, Michael and Lindsey Schluckebier, Maggie and Charles Gleason, Jesse Sich, Jeremy Sich; great-grandchildren: Elena Schluckebier, Anna Schluckebier, Eric Schluckebier, Liam Schluckebier, Hazel Schluckebier, Oliver Schluckebier, Christopher Gleason, Audrey Gleason; sisters and brothers-in-law: Zella Kontos, Grand Island, Virginia and Don Peterson, Seward, Barbara and Robert Chleborad, Rapid City, SD, Sandra and Gary Earl, Eagle; brother and sister-in-law, Jay and Viola Preston, Fairbury; other relatives and a host of friends.

To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Ila.