Juanita Seward

Juanita Jean Seward, 83, of Wellman, died, Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at the Parkview-Manor in Wellman.

Services have been set for 11:00AM Saturday, August 17, 2019 at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Wellman, with Rev. Melissa Warren officiating. A visitation will be held two hours prior. A private inurnment will be held at the Wellman Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for Washington County Hospice. The Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Juanita Jean was born on August 26, 1935 to Verna Mae (Beckler) & Lawrence F. “Zip” Kuhns in Wood River, Nebraska, and they moved to the Wellman area shortly after. Juanita graduated from Wellman High School and married Jack Seward in Wellman in 1953. They made their home in Wellman, moved for a year to Malcom, IA, but returned to Wellman to raise 2 children, Jack, Jr. and James Dean. Juanita was active in the community at various times on the City Parks Commission, volunteering at and delivering meals for the Wellman Senior Dining Facility, and many other activities involving sewing, embroidering and quilting. Juanita was a Charter member of both the East Iowa Heirloom Quilters, and Kountry Quilters of Wellman, Asbury Prayers and Squares, Iowa Illinois Quilt Study Group, and Wellman Embroidery Club. She often volunteered at the Kalona Historical Society with their quilts collection and at many area quilt shows that showcased her work.  One of her quilts was included in a Smithsonian Institution exhibit. Juanita worked through the years as a waitress at Lewis’s and Capper’s cafes and was the long time secretary at Buckwalter Motors in Wellman.  She enjoyed camping for many years with the family, and being founding members of the Tent N Tire camping club where they enjoyed a wide circle of friends. She enjoyed classes about quilting at the Old Settlers and Threshers Association Reunions in Mt. Pleasant while her husband and sons showed antique tractors and gas engines.  She loved entertaining all the grandkids any time she could, and she loved cooking and planning family get-togethers for her grandchildren until moving to Silver Pond Assisted Living at Parkview in 2018.

Juanita suffered from primary cortical aphasia that gradually took her ability to communicate with those she loved.

A regular attender at the Asbury United Methodist Church, Juanita left us in the arms of her Lord and Savior on August 13, 2019, 13 days before her 84th birthday. Juanita is survived by her husband Jack, Sr.; sons Jack, Jr. (Glenda) of West Chester, and James Dean (Debra) of Wellman; 6 grandchildren; Tim, Leah, Jed, Tyler, Jodee, Ian, and 15  great grandchildren, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and even more unofficially adopted kids; her brother Robert (Shirley) Kuhns, sisters Fern Yoder. Erma (Farrel) Statler, and Shirley Patterson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers in law, and an infant grandson, Darren Henry.