Juanita Marie Hala

Juanita Marie (Thorson) Hala, 78, peacefully passed away Friday, March 29, 2019, at the Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo, Iowa, surrounded by her loving family. Juanita was born to John B. and Imogene V. (Haak) Thorson on April 11, 1940 near Melbourne, Iowa. They moved to the Haak farm southwest of Laurel, Iowa when Juanita was 3 years old. Juanita attended Laurel School and graduated with the class of 1958 from Laurel High School. She attended one year of college at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She worked as a bookkeeper for Forest C. Reed Insurance Co. in Marshalltown, Iowa for three years. On September 2, 1961 she married Milo P. Hala of Toledo, Iowa at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Milo and Juanita celebrated 57 years of marriage. They lived in Otter Creek Township, rural Toledo on the Hala family farm where they raised their four children Michael, Ronald, Janis and Diane. Juanita was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church until its closing. Then she became an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama volunteering with the St. Teresa Circle, funeral dinners, counting money, making quilts, making rosaries with the CCD students, colored and sent over 80 birthday cards to parishioners. In the community she kept busy as a member of the Tama County Porkettes and Pork Producers, Otter Creek Township Clerk, Otter Creek Township Voting Chairman, Voting Official for primary and general elections, Road Runners Card Club, Krazy 8 Club, and the BG Club. After her father stopped giving blood, she followed in his footsteps and donated to Marshalltown Blood Center and gave blood up to just a year ago to the Blood Center of Iowa. She has saved many lives over the years by being a Silver Donor donating more than 8 gallons of her blood. There wasn’t a place Juanita could go where she didn’t know someone who was connected to someone else. She enjoyed researching family history and has binders of the genealogy of the Hala and Thorson families. She never missed one of her children’s activities as they went through school and attended many of the grandchildren’s events, as well. Playing cards, going to the casino to play black jack, making and decorating cakes for all occasions made Juanita smile. She will be remembered for her many graduation sheet cakes, baking pies, making homemade kolaches, buns, and sticky cinnamon rolls. She spent hours keeping her hands busy by doing needle point, cross-stitching, crafts, and sewing. Making quilts has been passed down through the generations making sure all the grandchildren had one, as well as, nursing homes and Hospice houses. She will always be remembered for her ability to crochet anything; Christmas decorations, blankets, dollies, animals, flowers, tablecloths and over 2,600 family names. Survivors include her husband Milo; brother Arlan (Judy) Thorson of Ankeny; children Ron (Karla) Hala of Toledo, Janis (John) Goeden of South Dakota, Diane (Patrick) Dinan of Dyersville, Iowa. Grandchildren Bridget Hoskey and Mike Dinan (Diane & Patrick); Brody, Nate, and Kallie Hala (Ron & Karla); Zane, Caleb, and Aubrey Hala (Mike & Alicia); Sierra (Goeden) Cargill and Holly Goeden (Janis & John) and one great-granddaughter Faustina Cargill.  In death, Juanita rejoins her parents John and Imogene Thorson, brothers: Max and Richard, son: Michael, great grandson twins Jude and Simon, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, and many other family and friends.    A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 3rd, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Fr. Michael Mescher officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Holy Trinity Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. Rosary and 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service all at the church. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com . The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Juanita and her family. Ph. 641-844-1234.