Edna E. Willems, 87, passed away on Jan. 15, 2025, in Centennial, Colorado.
She was born Aug. 11, 1937, in Halstead, 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, in 1955.
She married Leo Willems on Sept. 14, 1956, in Buhler 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
in 1958, 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 her daughters, Sharon (Greg) Fast of Lone Tree, Colo., and Lori (Paul) Westhoff of Glenwood Springs, Colo.; a son-in-law, Donnie Hostetler of Clinton, Okla.; two sisters,
Lois Engel of Winder, Ga., and Carolyn (Phil) Wachtman of 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 from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston. A private burial will be at Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday,
Feb. 18, at Whitestone Mennonite Church.
Memorials may be made to the Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, P.O. Box 32, Hesston, KS, 67062.
