Eleanor (Gerstner) Kidwell, 100, of Horton, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at the Horton Community Hospital. She was born on July 25, 1914 on a farm near Bradshaw, Nebraska, the first child of Antone and Josephine (Sampson) Gerstner. She attended schools in Nebraska and Kansas receiving her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Benedictine College in Atchison, in 1964. One May 15, 1944 she married James L. Kidwell in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1953 the Kidwell's moved to Horton, Kansas where Mrs. Kidwell resumed her teaching career. She taught at the Royal Valley Rural School, south of Muscotah for 6 years the she taught in Whiting, Muscotah and Effingham Elementary Schools, until she retired in 1977. After retiring Eleanor did substitute teaching. She was also a professional artist and taught art classes in her home. She had classes of children and adults of all ages, until her death. She attended many art shows and won numerous ribbons and awards. Eleanor was a member of the St. Leo's Catholic Church, Altar Society, Alpha Delta Kappa international teacher's sorority since 1956, American Association of University Women since 1964, Horton Women's Division of the Chamber of Commerce, Holton Art Guild and the International Society of Artists. Her love of children and people was evident in the large circle of friends she had acquired, in her lifetime. Survivors include five children, Mary Beth (Frank) Davis of St. Joseph, Missouri, Joan (Roy) Ray of Phoenix, Arizona, Jim (Denise) Kidwell of Phoenix, Arizona, Colleen (Keith) Ague of Brush Prairie, Washington, Tom Kidwell (B.J. Stahl) of Horton, Kansas; brother, Melvin Gerstner of Jeff City, Missouri; sister, Rita Punches of Muskegon, Michigan; special loving friend, Debbie Lehew Galbraith of Horton, Kansas; fifteen grandchildren, Jeff (Connie) Davis, Melissa (Brad) Butler, Keenan Kidwell, Kristen (Corey) Sollom, Nichole (David) Miller, Cindy (John) Minor, Todd Grunow, Chris Grunow, Ashley Kidwell, Tiffany (Han's) Coetzee, Courtney Heiman, Kyley (Walker) Gatz, Jeff (Rebecca) Mode, Kelly Ray and Laura Ray; twelve great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, James on December 20, 1998, two brothers, Lloyd and Harvey Gerstner. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, January 19, 2015 at the St. Leo's Catholic Church in Horton. A Rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. on Sunday evening at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton where the family will greet friends following the rosary. Burial will be at the St. Leo's Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Eleanor Kidwell Scholarship Fund and may be sent in care of the mortuary. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com