Wills, Ina Jule Steinmaus (1919-2004)

WILLS, STEINMAUS, GANNON, RIGTER, REINHARDT, TIMMONS, FLEAK

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, September 30, 2004

Ina J. Wills, beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend of many was embraced into the arms of her savior on Sept. 27, 2004. Although greatly missed by her friends and family, we take solace in the knowledge she is reunited with the true love of her life, her husband, Don. The vision of the two of them gracefully dancing through the heavens will help to fill the deep void we are all feeling.

Ina Wills, 85, of Webster City, died Monday, at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with Rev. John Flaherty, celebrant. Private family burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery following the luncheon at the church. Visitation will be at her home (716 White Post Drive) from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Ina Jule Steinmaus, daughter of Joseph and Ida Gannon Steinmaus, was born April 1, 1919 at Duncombe. She received her education in the Duncombe Public School and attended AIB at Des Moines. On April 5, 1937 she married Donald DeForrest Wills at Webster City. The couple resided at Webster City. She was a homemaker. Mr. Wills was a former postmaster at Webster City. He died November 14, 1994. She continued to reside at Webster City.

Mrs. Wills is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Joel Rigter of Charleston, S.C.; Colleen and Dean Reinhardt of Des Moines; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Glenda Wills, and Kent and Monica Wills, all of Webster City; 8 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Marjorie Timmons of Duncombe; Mary Lou Fleak of Springfield, Mo.; brother, Charles Steinmaus of St. Paul, Mn.; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Paul Steinmaus.

She was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and served with the funeral committee. She was also a charter member of the CSP Club and belonged to several card clubs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Hamilton County Hospice/Respite.

In Memory of Our Mother
BY KENT WILLS
My mother always described herself as just a housewife and in a way that was accurate. She had raised four children, survived a major war and did her childrearing and house hold duties with great honor and integrity. In reality it doesn't even come close to describing the sum of her identity.

Today and for the past several years society has described success mainly in materialistic and financial terms. My mother's success could be defined by both the quality and inherent goodness of her relationships.

Her success was found in building relationships. She had the unique quality of making every person she ever came into contact with feel special. Her best work was done at Bridge tables, lunches, dances and other social activities she was involved in, or in making grill cheeses in the middle of the night or lending an ear as a confidant and keeping a secret that would make even the CIA proud. It was these simple acts of kindness and her unfailing belief and devotion to faith that truly defined her life.

When it came to fashion she was definitely not a slave to tradition. Also Mom loved earrings with large hoops and when it came to clothes the brighter the better. She took pleasure in the latest fashions and styles. I once asked her if she ever dreamed of a career during her childhood. In which she replied "I did dream of being a showgirl once when I was younger. I would come out of the movies thinking of what it would be like to be onstage in those large productions. Mom never did work on the chorus line but she was our own personal shining star.

I believe that every child, grandchild and friend that she had felt that they were her favorite which was probably true since all of the people in her life were made to feel special and unique.

Even in the last months when her frailty and her mortality became more and more inevitable she remained a powerful light leading us in our daily lives. I celebrate my mother's passing onto the other side but at the same time I hold a deep sadness that I will no longer be able to share my life with her in the future. I will miss the passing of this remarkable woman who humbly described herself as just a housewife.

If you stop and listen for just a moment I'm sure you can hear Glenn Miller playing softly in the background and in the shadowy distance you can see two lone figures once again reunited and dancing the night away.