Born April 19, 1956, to Glen and Arlene (Subbert) Kusel, Jerilyn was baptized, confirmed, and married at Zion Lutheran Church, Manning. She and her husband both served in the U.S. Navy. Jerilyn was honorably discharged in 1979.

First located in the Washington D.C. area, Navy life took them and their two young sons to Honolulu, Hawaii. They returned to settle in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She later moved to her hometown in Iowa and worked as a legal secretary for a Carroll law firm. After her sons graduated from MHS they returned to the east coast. She chose to be near them and relocated to Virginia Beach in 2008.

She started her own business and became executive house manager for a prominent individual. More recently she was experiencing health difficulties which became more serious over the past several weeks. She was hospitalized August 11 and died the following day.

Graveside services are planned August 24 at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia, with military honors.

Jerilyn was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her sons, David Buzzard and Nathan Buzzard, three grandchildren Mariah Buzzard, Charlotte and Ryan Buzzard, all of Virginia Beach, Virginia; three sisters, Pam Kusel and Carlys (Allen) Stribe of Manning, Connie (Ivan) Walter, Denver, Colorado; nieces and nephews, along with August, her four-legged companion.

Sympathy cards and condolences may be sent to Ohde Funeral Home, P.O. Box 247, Manning, Iowa 51455, Attn: Jerilyn Kusel Family.