Juanita D. Dennert

Juanita D. Dennert

Cedar Rapids

Juanita D. Dennert, 100, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, at Woodlands Care Center in the Methwick Community. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home located at 4200 First Ave., NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. Visitation will be Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. before the service.

Survivors include her children, R. Bruce (Jan) Dennert of Mukwonago, Wis., Kathlyn Marie (Edward) Ebert of Chippewa Falls, Wis., Paul Marcus (Susan) Dennert of Waukesha, Wis., and Janet D. DePuma (John) of Bethany, Conn. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren (11 spouses) and 21 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her spouse, Rev. Robert (Bob) A Dennert of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and a sister, Janet Noreen Maddox of Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Juanita was born Oct. 8, 1922, in Huron, S.D.; the daughter of George and Ella Fern Maddox. Her early years were spent on the South Dakota farm, attending country school followed by a series of moves and attempts to find the right environment for her beloved father who suffered with a debilitating illness. In 1932, her family moved to Radcliffe Iowa as they struggled to manage through the years of the Great Depression era. She was an active member of the church community and graduated from Radcliffe High School in 1939 and went on to attend college. In 1943, after her attendance to Ellsworth College, Juanita started her career at Ralston Purina in the accounting department. When she married Bob in 1965, she moved to Wisconsin and began her role as a pastor’s wife and mother. In 1979 Juanita and Bob moved to Cedar Rapids Iowa and served Trinity United Methodist church until 1984 when Bob “retired”. They then began serving Palo United Methodist and Bob became the Chaplin for the Methwick Community. Juanita always assumed an active support role helping these various ministries to thrive. She was a beloved extension to the ministerial staff.

In 1987, Juanita and Bob became proud members of the Methwick Community when they purchased an apartment in Methwicks new Greenwood independent living facility. Juanita has continued living in this beautiful Methwick Community, becoming an icon in her own right. She was, up until her death the longest living resident at Greenwood (35-plus years) She was known for her philanthropic giving contributing to Methwick, the American Bible Society and many other Christian organizations.

She loved butterflies which represented her deep Christian faith, she was active volunteer for all things Methwick. She loved her family and friends and uplifting others; as she would always say “I am truly Blessed.”

Online condolences may be sent to www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Memorials may be sent to The Meth-Wick Community or the American Bible Society.