Aleen Lucile (Gremmel) Schalansky was born September 7, 1922, the 7th child of Fredrick William and Anna Sophia (Dettmer) Gremmel, Agra, Kansas. She was baptized by Pastor Bungi on October 1, 1922 at St. John's Lutheran Church with Hannah Dettmer and Louise Laudman as her sponsors. She confirmed her faith at the same church on September 29, 1935 by Pastor E. A. Stein. Her memory verse was found in II Corinthians 9:6, "He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully."

Aleen attended DuBois School District #13, Phillips County rural school and graduated May 15 with the class of 1940 from Agra Rural High School as a Purple Charger. Her class motto: "Push, Pull or Get out of the Way".

Aleen was quite smitten with Arnold Isernhagen and after following him to Austin, Texas they were married August 13, 1941. To this union two daughters were born: Sharon Kay and Linda Jolene. The Army life took them to Colorado Springs, CO where they lived until Arnold and Aleen divorced.

Aleen and her girls moved to Phillips County where Aleen worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone as an operator for over 10 years. They lived at the Gremmel farm with her parents and family.

Aleen married Aldrich F. Schalansky on May 16, 1960 at St. John's Lutheran Church with Pastor Minneman officiating in a simple ceremony with only 10 people attending. To this union one daughter, Mary Lori, Loretta was born. The Bible verse given at their wedding was Psalm 48:14, "This God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide unto death."

After marrying Aldrich, or "Shy" as most people called him, they made their home on the Schalansky farm south of Claudell. Later, they built a house in Kensington so they would have somewhere to stay during school events in the winter. They eventually moved to Claudell so Shy could be close to the farm and Aleen close to the highway to get into town. She spent the rest of her life as a farm wife, getting Shy to & from the fields and Mary Lori to lessons, 4-H meetings, church and school events.

Aleen spent much of her time doing yardwork – sectioning off a little to do each day and tending to flowers as her Mother had. She canned a variety of fruits and veggies and dressed many chickens to provide for her family. She was a woman with pride and dignity. Aleen also thought it was worth her time to visit any shoe store having a sale: she loved her shoes and purses!

Aleen and Aldrich traveled to many places: Yellowstone in Wyoming; Branson, MO; Taos, NM; and Brownsville, TX. They visited relatives and army buddies in Columbus, OH; Champaign, IL; Washington, DC; Boston, MA; and Phoenix, AZ. There were many trips to Colorado on family vacations. Wherever their children & families moved, they would go visit.

Aleen enjoyed Christmas Eve celebrations at her mother's house in Agra with all her family, attending Agra's alumni banquets, and having her family come for Easter or Thanksgiving dinners. She used these special gatherings to showcase her fancy silverware, glasses, plates or serving dishes, most of which came from the many sales and auctions she attended. She took great pride in bringing home these treasures and spending time polishing, buffing and shining them with just the right medium to attain its once radiant luster. Once cleaned to perfection, she would render them useful again.

Aleen appreciated the beautiful Kansas sunsets and enjoyed bird watching, tole painting, embroidery, lighthouses, collecting seashells, and watching car races at the local tracks. She also enjoyed spending time with friends at the Kensington Senior Center, sharing meals and playing Pinochle.

Sarelda Hall and Wanda Fink were Aleen's friends, sharing many adventures and attending their daughters' sporting events together.

After Aldrich's passing in 1995, Aleen continued to travel, going with sister, Eleanora to visit sister, Ella Marie, in Alabama. She went with Linda & Jon to San Antonio, TX and Washington, DC. She continued family trips to Colorado and drove herself to Milford Lake to be with Daneen and other granddaughters.

Aleen took her final journey, departing her earthly life, from Prairie Haven in Smith County on the Epiphany, January 6, 2012. Psalm 85:12,"Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good."

In addition to husband, Aldrich Schalansky, she was preceded in death by her parents; former husband, Arnold Isernhagen; siblings Clara Diercks, Neva Jensen, Arnold Gremmel, Louis Gremmel, Alma Billings, Wayne Gremmel and Irma Gremmel.

Aleen left behind her three daughters: Sharon Meyer of Kansas City, MO; Linda Ferguson (Jon) and Mary Lori Struckhoff (Cory) all of Kensington, KS; five beloved granddaughters: Kristine Meyer of Chapman, KS; Daneen Deam (Chris) of Milford, KS; Angiela Meyer (Eddie Krygiel) of Kansas City, MO; Emily Ferguson (Toby Barger) of Kansas City, MO; and Olivia Rogers (Willie) of Overland Park, KS; two sisters: Eleanora Ratliff of Smith Center, KS and Ella Marie DuBois (LeRoy) of Hoover, AL; and four great-grandchildren: Henry and Oscar Rogers and Maya and Zoe Krygiel.

She also leaves 9 nieces, 14 nephews and their families; her friends; and many caregivers at Prairie Haven and the Phillips County Hospital and Medical Clinic.

Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, 2012 in the St. John Lutheran Church in Kensington with Pastor Lorna Paulus officiating. Burial will follow in the Bohemian Cemetery, Smith County, KS.

Mrs. Shalansky will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. John Lutheran Church or Agra Lake Fund.