Iladel "Rusty" Sherwood, age 90, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, and formerly of Kansas, New York City, Chicago and Wheaton, died Monday, July 11, 2011, at Johnson Health Care Center at Windsor Park. She was born August 4, 1920 in Geneva, Kansas to George and Maud Sherwood.

Rusty grew up in Geneva, Kansas and graduated from Geneva High School. After leaving home at age 17, she worked for the Hall brothers at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City and for Howard Hughes at TWA in New York City. She moved to Chicago in 1947, where she owned and operated Office Assistants from 1947 to 1965. Upon moving to Wheaton, she established Research Enterprises (later Alanwood Enterprises, Inc.) in 1969, where she worked until her retirement in 2007.

Her faith was an important part of her life and she was a long-time member of Parkview Community Church (formerly First Baptist Church) in Glen Ellyn. She was a long-time church leader, and particularly enjoyed working with children and young people, developing and publishing curriculum used by churches across the country. She also authored "200 Years of Sunday School in America," published in 1976.

She is survived by a sister-in-law, Dorothy Sherwood; three nieces, Thelma Hisler, Barbara Sherwood and Margarette McReynolds; and many beloved friends, including the Strating family, by whom she has been considered family for over 60 years.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at 4:00 at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St. in Wheaton. Friends may visit from 3:30 until the service or following the service. Interment will be held privately at Clarendon Hills Cemetery.