Juanita Varner

Juanita Varner, 92, passed away on February 28, 2023. She was a resident of Cherokee Village, Arkansas and previously a long-time resident of Keokuk, Iowa. She grew up and attended school in Montrose, Iowa.

Juanita was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Hubert Varner, who passed away on April 18, 2014. Juanita and Hubert are interred in the Montrose Cemetery.

Juanita worked for several years as manager of Hartrick’s Kitchen Center in Keokuk. She enjoyed designing kitchens for many local homes during her tenure. She played piano for her own enjoyment, being taught by her mother Ada Vanosdoll, who was a piano teacher and long-time resident of Montrose.

Juanita had a good sense of humor and was a fun-loving person.  She gave her many nieces, nephews and grandchildren good times of laughter and happy memories when they came to visit.

Juanita developed her hobby of sewing to an expert level, making elaborate clothes for collector dolls as well as an authentic 19th Century girl’s costume for her granddaughter Erica to wear as a re-enactor at the historic Missouri Town village near Kansas City, Missouri.

Juanita is survived by many friends and relatives, which include a son Neil (Mary) Varner of Hardy, Arkansas; a daughter Joy (Thomas) Conwell of Rochester, Massachusetts; eight grandchildren: Lynette McKinney, Keely Rogers, Clayton, Brett and Lyndsay Varner, Kaley Varner McNeill, Erica Hays Sample, and Spencer Hays; eleven great-grandchildren: Mia and Hunter McKinney, Kody and Karli Rogers, Dalton, Bryce and Tristan Varner, Lathan Boyd, Jase Holbert, Kyler Carroll, and Mason White; and a brother David (Kathy) Vanosdoll.

Juanita was also preceded in death by her sister Wanda Wardlow, a son Keith Varner, and a daughter Maureen Sue Varner.