Juanita Irene Henning

Juanita Irene Henning, loving matriarch, was born January 24, 1931, in Marble Rock, Iowa, to Helen Gruis Cooper. She was confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Latimer, Iowa, and graduated valedictorian in 1948 from Franklin Consolidated School in Latimer, Iowa. She married her high school sweetheart, Owen L. Henning, on Feb. 5, 1949. To this union, two children were born: Jeffry Lynn and Colleen Ann.

Juanita was a strong and accomplished woman who lived life to the fullest, faced adversity with grace and dignity, and hoped that her outlook on life would live on through the lives she touched. She was a people person who always enjoyed hosting folks in her home. Juanita found special joy in family gatherings, baking lemon meringue and rhubarb pies, playing cards, making cookies, fancily wrapped Christmas packages, gospel music, golfing, fishing, writing and receiving letters, a clean house, and Sunday night popcorn.

She held many positions and titles over the years. They include working for Lemke Tax Service in Latimer for eight tax seasons, working for three years for Gilchrist Law Firm, and working for many years for Henning Construction and Henning Company alongside Owen.

Church was an important part of Juanita's life. She served on the Latimer Methodist Church Board and taught Sunday school for nine years. When she and Owen joined Immanuel United Church in Latimer in 1967, she taught the youth group for five summers and challenged the kids with creative awards - always drawing perfect attendance! In their 50s, Owen and Juanita became members of the Marco Island United Church of Christ, and she served on both the Public Relations and the Life and Growth committees for a combined eight years.

Juanita had a flair for the creative and performing arts. Back in Iowa, she directed the United Church's centennial play, and helped write and direct Latimer's centennial play. CAL Community School produced spring plays, and Juanita had lead roles for several years. In Florida, Juanita enjoyed being a cashier at the Marco Island Bargain Basket, and she directed their annual style shows for many years.

Golfing was an important part of Juanita's life. In Iowa, she served as President and Vice President of the Latimer Golf Club Ladies League and the All-Vets Golf Club in Clear Lake.

Additionally, she served as a volunteer at Urgent Care on Marco Island, where she did blood pressure checks for 12 years.

Juanita was very active in the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron, serving on the Ways and Means committee for 10 years. Owen and Juanita enjoyed many boating trips to local and foreign destinations ? and she always enjoyed bringing big fish into the boat.

Owen and Juanita moved to the Bentley Village Retirement Complex in August 2016. Sadly, Owen passed after 72 years of marriage due to Alzheimer's and COVID-19 in 2021.

Juanita is survived by her children Jeff (Cindy) Henning and Colleen (John) Hensel, her grandchildren Heather (Acie Forrer) Henning, Lisa Henning, Adrea (Keith) Beatty, and Alex (Kate Peabody) Hensel, her great-grandchildren Reese, Nora and Noelle, and her step great-grandchildren Chelsea and Morgan. She is also survived by Dr. Maria Vellutini Pimentel, her Brazilian exchange student, and special friends Marjorie and Howard Klein, Mary and Wes Bryant, Lela Gershon and her many other friends at Bentley Village.

A memorial service will be held at Naples United Church of Christ, 5200 Crayton Rd, Naples, FL, on May 13, 2024, at 11 am, with a luncheon to follow. She will be laid to rest on Marco Island. The family requests memorials be sent to the Bargain Basket Thrift Shop, 750 Bald Eagle Dr, Marco Island, FL 34145, and Immanual United Church of Christ, 204 East St, Latimer, IA 50452.