Hannelore Huisman, affectionately known as "Honey" and "Oma," passed away peacefully at home on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the age of 85.

Born in Darmstadt, Germany, to Emilie and Friedrich Eppler, Honey's early life was shaped by the hardships of World War II. Her experiences under the Third Reich instilled in her a lifelong commitment to freedom, civic engagement, and public service.

Honey married James Huisman, a member of the United States Army, on August 9, 1958, in Rüsselsheim, Germany. She immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 1962. Her love for her adopted country was profound and enduring. Through her celebrated speech, "What Being a Citizen Means to Me," she inspired countless students and civic groups across Illinois, earning recognition from the Daughters of the American Revolution and other organizations.

A tireless advocate for democracy and equality, Honey was deeply involved in local and state politics. She served as a precinct committee member, met President Gerald Ford at the White House in 1977, and held leadership roles in the Quad Cities chapter of the National Organization for Women. Her public service extended to the Illinois State Board of Elections, where she served as Vice Chairman and later Chairman. She also served on the Board of Trustees at Black Hawk College, receiving the Trustee Emerita Award in 2005.

Honey's passions were as diverse as her accomplishments. She was a devoted member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Milan where she served in the Lutheran Women Missionary League sewing hundreds of baby blankets and assembling first aid kits. When she lived in Waterloo, Iowa, Honey knitted "miles" of bandages for lepers, according to her family. Honey was a skilled gardener and fiber artist, an avid reader, and a meticulous genealogist. Her home was a sanctuary of books, warmth, and hospitality. Alongside her beloved husband Jamie, she fostered children and volunteered at Russian orphanages through Child Life.

She is survived by her husband, James Huisman; her sister, Doris Rindermann of Frankfurt, Germany; her children Doris (Mark) Cotton, Patricia DeLong, Diana (Steve) Hudson, and Rick (Vikki) Huisman; grandchildren Myke (April) Cotton, Steffanie Cotton (Ben DePauw), Jaime (Jeff) Brown, Amber DeLong (Zac Betcher), Joseph DeLong, Britney (Ryan) Wilson, Terence Hudson, Ian (Anne) Hudson, Haley Hudson (Josh Eaton), Dani Hudson, Jacob Huisman, Joshua Huisman, and Benjamin Huisman; 14 great-grandchildren and 7 bonus great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson Addison Hudson, and her son-in-law, John DeLong.

A visitation will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan. Funeral services will be at 10:00am on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Milan. Luncheon will be held at church following the service. Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery.

The family invites flowers, which she loved so deeply, and memorial gifts to Gideon International. Honey would also be honored by encouraging everyone to register to vote and actively participate in their communities—values she held dear throughout her life.

Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the causes she championed, and the love she gave so freely.