Basil Willett

Basil E. Willett July 14, 1921-July 04, 2009 Basil E. Willett entered into life July 14, 1921 in Nuckolls County Nebraska to Charles Thomas Willett and Elsie Kramer Willett. On July 4, 2009, ten days before his 88th birthday, Basil entered into rest at LaLoma Village in Litchfield Park, Arizona. During his grade school years, he, his parents and younger brother, Calvin, moved from Nebraska to northern Missouri and then to Union County Iowa. He attended and graduated from Thayer High School, where he met, Juanita Hanon. Married in 1942, they started farming in Union County and for the past 55 years they have owned their Clarke County farm southeast of Murray, Iowa. Basil enjoyed planting and harvesting crops, but his favorite part of farming was working with the livestock, particularly his cattle. Basil also operated construction equipment for many years, building roads throughout Iowa. The past 30 years Basil and Juanita have enjoyed traveling and spending time with their friends and family in their homes, both in Murray and in Phoenix, AZ. In addition to enjoying wonderful times with their children: Beverly Jerald Burnett-Rounds, Placitas, NM/Litchfield Park, AZ; Darwin Cheryl Willett, Creston, IA; grandchildren: Scott Alicia Burnett, Cedar Rapids, IA; Lisa Don Willett Mongar, Creston, IA; Jeffrey Tasha Burnett, Goodyear, AZ ; Darla Rex Willett Rohrssen, Ames, IA and great-grandchildren: Sasha and Travis Burnett; Courtney, Cassidy and Connor Burnett; Madeline and Dean Mongar; Sydney, Adelaide and McKinley Rohrssen, Basil and Juanita enjoyed dancing, playing cards and traveling. Multiple photo albums reflect 67 years of wonderful pictures and the treasured memories of numerous vacations together. Basil and Juanita often described their 1994 vacation, driving to and from Alaska, as their "trip of a lifetime." In addition to being survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-children, Basil is survived by his brother's wife: Viola Willett and two of his wife's sisters: Laura Jane Spangler and husband, Dwayne and Marie Pitkin; special cousins: Jackie Pearson; Sam Willett; and Vaden Kramer and nineteen nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by: his parents; brother and only sibling, Calvin Willett; his wife's parents Mary and Elmer Hanon; brother-in-law Wayne Pitkin and nephew Dennis Pitkin; two sisters-in-law and their husbands; Irene and Leland VanderLinden and Phyllis and Alan Clampitt. Basil was a big man in structure and in heart. He will always be a cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend and he will be remembered for his warm smile, kind heart, generosity and wonderful hugs. Private family services for a celebration of Basil's life are being planned. Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 623-979-6451, Sun City, AZ, is assisting with arrangements.