Obituary of Ione Elaine Shuster

Ione Elaine Shuster, née Peterson, of Farmington Hills, MI passed away on September 28, 2023 after a brief illness. She was born on April 27, 1919 in Iron Mountain, MI to Clarence and Mabel Peterson and grew up in Homestead, WI on her parents' dairy farm. Her good friend Temmy Solom Berg moved to Detroit to become a teacher and suggested that Ione move to Detroit, too. Ione worked for the Ford Motor Company until she married Walter Shuster in 1953. Once her children began to attend school, she held a variety of secretarial positions where she was highly valued for her skills and conscientiousness. She also was involved in real estate sales, and Walt and Ione owned and operated a real estate business (Walt Shuster Real Estate).

Walt and Ione were among the first members of Orchard United Methodist Church in Farmington Hills, where Ione was still a member. Ione was active with several groups that meet at the Costick Center in Farmington Hills, including the Red Hat Society and Sojourn Bears. She also was active for many years in the League of Women Voters, the Business and Professional Women’s Society, the Windbaggers Club (Farmington-Farmington Hills-Livonia Chapter of Toastmasters International), and the Older Women’s League.

Ione enjoyed cross country skiing until her 70s and was a hiker all of her life. She loved nature and would point out interesting things that she observed along the trail. She also loved to find patterns in the clouds. Ione had a special connection to Heritage Park, where, in her mid-90s, she joined the Saturday morning hiking group. For the last year and a half of her life she lived totally independently at Beaumont Commons where she enjoyed a daily walk around the beautiful grounds and the many activities offered there, including cardio drumming. She loved music of all kinds, and especially enjoyed attending the various live concerts offered around Farmington and Farmington Hills.

Ione was fiercely independent and very dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle. She read voraciously and was engaged with what was happening in the world. She followed the Detroit Tigers and Lions (although the Green Bay Packers were first in her heart) and was an ace Scrabble player and crossword puzzle solver. Ione was a role model for many and touched the lives of numerous people throughout her life. She will be missed.

Ione is survived by her daughters Linda (Bill Wonderlin) Shuster and Bonnie (Frank Martinez) Shuster, her sons Ron (Sue) Shuster and Rob (Diane Wechter) Shuster, her stepdaughter Julie Schellenberg, her brother Russell Peterson, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Walt, her sister Nina Johnson, her brothers Bob, Bill, Clarence, and Don Peterson, and stepsons Walter Shuster and Don Shuster. The family is grateful to Ione's nephew Ray Shuster and his wife Marylin for their many acts of kindness and care provided to Ione over the years. The family also would like to thank her special friend at Beaumont Commons, Julie Wagner, for all she did for Ione. A memorial service will be scheduled next spring near her birthday. Donations in her honor can be made to the Detroit Institute of Arts.