Posted: 4:29 p.m. Friday, June 27, 2014

Husemann was an ‘ultimate public servant’

By Michael D. Pitman

Staff Writer

    A longtime public servant with stints in Oxford, Middletown and Kettering lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday.

    Steve Husemann, a Cincinnati native, died from complications of Multiple Myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. Doctors diagnosed him with the disease in April 2009, and though he was considered “cancer-free” in 2010, according to a Moorseville, N.C. newspaper, it came back.

    The former Mooresville town manager died at his home in Mooresville, N.C. He was 63.

    Husemann started his career in public service as a transportation planner in Georgia. He served as the assistance city manager in Oxford from 1975 to 1979 before serving as the Tipp City city manager from 1979 to 1984. He also worked in Sydney and Kettering before he retired in 2006. And before Middletown hired Judy Gilleland as city manager in 2007, Husemann served as the interim city manager.

    “Steve was the ultimate public servant,” said Gilleland. “I can’t think of a finer example of a public administrator who cared about doing the right thing, saving taxpayer’s dollars and working for the general good of the public.”

    Husemann hired Gilleland in her first public service job as an intern when he worked in Tipp City, and was involved in her hiring for her last job as a public service. Gilleland retired earlier this month.

    “He was extremely proud of his family,” said Gilleland. “While we did spend time talking about our families and personal interests, most of our time was spent how to improve city services.”

    Marie Edwards first met Husemann when she was hired by him when he was Middletown’s interim city manager.

    “I admired and respected Steve,” she said.

    Edwards first worked for Husemann in 2007 and then again she worked for Husemann when he was the city’s part-time human resources manager.

    “He always gave us the opportunity to stretch ourselves and he would help us to reach goals,” she said. “He set the example to be a hard worker.”

    Edwards, who now works for the CBI at the Robert “Sonny” Hill Jr. Community Center, said even though he was the part-time human resources manager, he still resided in North Carolina and would drive back and forth.

    An example of his character, Edwards said, was when he drove up from North Carolina in February 2012 to attend a funeral after her mother-in-law died from complications of lymphoma.

    Husemann is survived, among other family members, by Diana Husemann, his wife of 40 years, his children Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew Husemann and Emily Husemann Spring, and his brother Dick Husemann.

    He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ruth Husemann, and sister Jean Husemann Scheiderer.

    A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bethany Church of Christ, 2755 Stroop Road in Kettering. In lieu of flowers, it’s been requested donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or the Kettering Foundation.

    The Mooresville, N.C.-based Cavin-Cook Funeral Home is serving the family and condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.