Juanita Willett

Juanita Hanon Willett passed away in Surprise, Arizona on October 23, 2014, at the age of 91. Juanita was born in Creston, Iowa on April 25, 1923, the eldest of the five daughters of Elmer and Mary Hanon. Juanita attended a rural, one-room school through eighth grade and later attended and graduated at Thayer High School, where she met Basil Willett, the love of her life. Juanita and Basil were married October 23, 1942 and started farming in Union County. For 55 years they owned their Clarke County farm, southeast of Murray, Iowa. Juanita attended Simpson College. Initially, she taught in Union and Clarke County rural schools, moving to Murray Community School, in the mid-fifties where she taught until retiring in the mid-eighties. Over her years of teaching, Juanita, always treasured her students, including two of her sisters, her two children and her oldest grandchild. Juanita and Basil cherished their family: daughter, Beverly (Jerald) Burnett-Rounds, Litchfield Park, Arizona and son, Darwin (Cheryl) Willett, Creston, Iowa; grandchildren: Scott (Alicia) Burnett, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Lisa (Don) Willett Mongar, Creston, Iowa, Jeffrey (Tasha) Burnett, Goodyear, Arizona, Darla (Rex) Willett Rohrssen, Ames, Iowa; and great-grandchildren: Sasha and Travis Burnett, Courtney, Cassidy and Connor Burnett, Madeline and Dean Mongar, Sydney, Adelaide and McKinley Rohrssen. They enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and traveling the USA, from coast to coast. Juanita enjoyed capturing these memories in the camera. Their favorite vacation was driving through Canada, to and from Alaska, which they considered their “trip of a lifetime.” When home she enjoyed baking cookies and making marvelous peanut brittle to share with her friends and family. In the early eighties they began wintering in Phoenix and enjoyed their friends and homes, in both Arizona and Iowa. When Basil passed away in 2009, Juanita continued to live in Arizona at Freedom Inn Sun City West and Orchard Point in Surprise. Juanita is survived by her sister, Marie Pitkin (husband, Wayne-deceased), sister-in law, Viola Willett (husband, Calvin-deceased) and brother-in law, Dwayne Spangler. Preceding Juanita in death were: her parents, Elmer & Mary Hanon, sisters, Irene (Leland) VanderLinden, Laura Jane Spangler, Phyllis (Alan) Clampitt, Elsie and Charles Willett (Basil’s parents). Juanita will always be a cherished mother, grandmother and friend and she will be remembered for her kind heart, warm smile, generosity and wonderful hugs. Services for a Celebration of Life will be held in Murray, Iowa, at a future date. Memorial donations may be sent to Murray Community School, 216 Sherman Street, Murray, Iowa 50174, Telephone, 641-447-2517. Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 623-979-6451, Sun City, Arizona.