Edna Willems Obituary

Edna E. Willems, 87, passed away January 15, 2025, in Centennial, Colorado.
She was born August 11, 1937, in Halstead, KS, the oldest daughter of Edward and Verna (Koehn) Dirks.
Edna was raised on a farm with her family until she graduated from Central Christian Bible Academy, Hutchinson, KS in 1955. She married Leo Willems on September 14, 1956, in Buhler, KS, and shortly after moved to Detroit, where Leo began his 1-W service. While there she clerked at Henry Ford Hospital. They moved to Hesston in1958, where they raised their three daughters.
Edna worked in retail sales for most of her career, except for a brief stint as owner and manager of Hesston Daylight Donuts. Some of her biggest loves in life were gardening, hosting friends, family and college students in her home, singing in the choir and serving at Whitestone Mennonite Church.
Edna is survived by daughters, Sharon (Greg) Fast of Lone Tree, Colorado, Lori (Paul) Westhoff of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; a Son-in-law, Donnie Hostler, Clinton, Oklahoma; two sisters Lois Engel, Winder, Georgia and Carolyn (Phil) Wachtman, Fort Worth, Texas; eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; parents; sister, Dorothy Pritchard; brother James Dirks; daughter, Pamela and granddaughter, Abigail.
A visitation will be held at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston, on Monday, February 17, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM. A private burial will be at Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston, February 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM, followed by a memorial service at Whitestone Mennonite Church, Hesston at 11:00 AM.
Memorials may be made to the Showalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston.
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