WILLIAMS, LaJeune D. (1919-2018)

WILLIAMS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/29/2019 at 12:54:38

LaJeune D. Williams
(August 12, 1919 - May 20, 2018)

LaJeune D. Williams, 98, died Sunday May 20, 2018, at The Village in Indianola, IA, after surviving a major stroke in June of 2017. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on June 11th at 3:00 p.m. at The Village, 1203 N. E Street in Indianola.
LaJeune was born August 12, 1919, in Kuling, China, the second of four children born to missionary parents stationed in Nanking. After evacuating China in the wake of the 1927 revolution, her family spent one year in Japan before returning to the US and Kansas via a tour of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
She graduated from Southwestern College, Winfield KS, in 1937 majoring in Voice and Fine Arts, preparing for advanced study and a career in music. Instead she pursued a religious calling by enrolling in Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston IL for studies in Religious Education. There she met Dale J. Williams, a seminarian from Iowa, whom she married in 1942. After graduation they made their home in Iowa where together they served Methodist churches in What Cheer, Des Moines, Denison, West Liberty, Dubuque, Council Bluffs, and a district post in Ottumwa. LaJeune's life as pastor's wife expanded to teaching public school music, conducting church choirs, teaching and serving in many denominational, ecumenical and community service organizations both locally and state wide. She was a tireless advocate for education and service to others through social justice and mission work. Throughout her life her talents in the arts--vocal music and the violin, poetry, writing, speaking and creative arts--were a sustaining thread.
In 1983 they retired to the home they had built in Estes Park CO. They enjoyed their beautiful mountains until 1999 when they relocated to The Village in Indianola, their home at the time of her death.
Surviving her are her husband of 75 years, Dale John Williams; daughter, Lynanne Wilson (Stephen) of Charlottesville, VA; son-in-law, Kirk Dickey of Des Moines; four grandchildren, Eric Wilson, (Sarah) of Lexington, VA, Elisa Wilson (Doran Spencer) of San Diego, CA, Ryan Dickey and Kate Cossa (David) of Ankeny; three great grandchildren, Anna Wilson, and Wyatt and Aurelie Spencer; nieces, Gretchen Dieterich and Sarah Dieterich and nephews, Christopher and Frederick Dieterich and Karl Dieterich. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Janinne Williams, her three siblings, William and Gordon Dieterich and Elizabeth Cutler, and her parents, Frederick William and Flora Alice Hyde Dieterich.
Memorial gifts in honor of LaJeune may be directed to The Good Shepherd Fund at The Village. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/