Lynn Elizabeth (Neifing) Kustes

Lynn E. Kustes, 63, of Moline, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis, Illinois.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Saturday, Sept 30th at Christ The King Catholic Church, Moline.  Visitation is 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29th at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island, where a rosary will be recited at 4 pm.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ The King Catholic Church, the Lupus Foundation of America, or the University of Illinois Foundation with a reference designating that the contribution is for the “UIC - Quad Cities Legacy Fund.”

Lynn Elizabeth Neifing was born Nov. 8, 1953 in Kankakee, Ill., the daughter of James W. and Maerita J. Wertz Neifing.  She married John T. Kustes on March 18, 1978 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island.

Lynn graduated from Rock Island High School and from Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, Moline.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago through the College of Nursing Quad Cities Regional Program office as a member of the inaugural RN-BSN completion class of 1982.  Lynn worked as a Registered Nurse for 41 years, retiring from Trinity Health Systems in 2015.  During her Trinity career she received an Excellence FIRST award.

Lynn was very active as a University of Illinois alumnus, receiving an Illinois loyalty award recognizing many years as an officer and activity leader in the Quad City Illini Club, which raised funds through club activities for scholarships to support area students attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She dressed in “orange and blue” from head to toe for Fighting Illini events, and especially enjoyed hard-won victories over the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Lynn served as an energetic force in organizing UIC College of Nursing Quad Cities Program alumni, and was chair of its Nursing Alumni Board for over 25 years.  In 1998, she received the prestigious Constituent Leadership Award from the University of Illinois.  In 2017, Lynn was honored with the Quad Cities Director’s Legacy Award in recognition of her promotion of the program and service to the Quad Cities unit for 35 years.

Lynn joined the local support group for individuals diagnosed with Lupus in 1989 to organize educational events and awareness meetings, and became a valuable asset as the only board member with a medical background.  She was also active in her Catholic faith, teaching 3rd and 4th graders in religious education and serving as a Eucharistic minister.  Lynn was an avid reader and great fan of Disney theme parks, movies, and collectibles.  She was a Cardinals baseball fan and competitive Uno player.  She loved her family, and especially enjoyed spending time with them.  Lynn was a loving and dedicated caregiver and was gifted in making people feel special.

Survivors include her husband, John; son, Matthew T. Kustes, Chicago; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. James L. and Kelley Neifing, Portland, Ore.; nephew, James C. Neifing, and niece, Ella M. Neifing, both of Portland; and her beloved Pug, Zoey.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.

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