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Submitted: 5/26/22 • Approved: 5/26/22 • Last Updated: 5/29/22 • R1433861-G1433720-S3
March 1, 1924 - September 5, 2018
*Obituary
The Weekly Vista
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Juanita Adeline Dittmer, 94, of Green Valley, Ill., died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018 at her residence. She was formerly of Bella Vista, Ark. and Manilla, Iowa.
Born March 1, 1924 in Loup City, Nebraska to John Leavett and Adah Florence (Smith) Howe, she married Gayle Eugene “Bob” Dittmer on September 22, 1940 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He died May 11, 2013 in Bella Vista. She also was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.
Surviving are one son, Ted Leon (Priscilla) Dittmer of White Water, Colo.; three daughters, Ann Lynn (Richard) Wymore of St. Louis, Mo., Teri Rose (Neal) Wernsman of Fleming, Colo., and Tammy Jo (Dr. Joel) Jess of Pekin, Ill.; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was a graduate of the Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Juanita was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Manilla where she was a member of the WSCS (Women’s Society of Christian Service), taught Sunday School for many years and served as the Sunday School Superintendent. She was also active with the Shelby County Extension. An avid flower and vegetable gardener, she had a passion for growing iris, moving them with her over the years as she changed homes. Along with working as a Registered Nurse at Manning General Hospital in Manning, Iowa from 1973 to 1982, Juanita was a devoted farm wife, assisting her husband with the dairy farm until retiring to Bella Vista, Arkansas in 1984.
In retirement, she was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista, where she quietly served with a servant’s heart, leading Bible studies, making crafts for the bazaar and serving in the United Methodist Women. Juanita also enjoyed sewing and made matching outfits for her granddaughters as well as many of her own garments. Juanita and Bob enjoyed traveling during their retirement and often visited their children as well as Cedaredge, Colorado where her father had lived out his final days.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 1:30 p.m. October 13, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Pekin, Ill.. Pastor Vernon Risner will officiate. Further services will be held at 1:30 p.m. October 18, 2018 at First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista, Arkansas, with Rev. Jeanne Williams officiating. Private inurnment will be in Bella Vista Memorial Garden Cemetery.
Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin is assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International, One World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
PAID OBITUARY
Contributed on 5/26/22 by judyfrog
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Record #: 1433861