Willa Ellen Palmquist, the daughter of Claude and Ethel (Pritchard) Rector was born in Harrison County, Missouri in Jefferson City, on October 11, 1925. She passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 6 months and 26 days.

Willa moved to Iowa with her parents in 1929 and has been a resident of Montgomery County ever since. She attended country schools in West township through the eighth grade and then Red Oak High School, where she graduated in 1943. After graduation, she attended a summer college in Corning, Iowa and received a certificate to teach elementary classes in the county. Willa was united in marriage to J. Bernard Palmquist on September 17, 1944 at the Covenant Church in Stanton, Iowa. She was the mother of five children. Willa taught rural schools in Montgomery County, was a Sunday school teacher at Pilot Grove Methodist Church, a 4-H leader for Pilot Grove Pals, and was employed at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in the 70's. She was a member of the Pilot Grove Methodist Church for 54 years, a member of UMW, and the Elliott Research Club. Willa's favorite things to do was be with her family and her grandchildren were very special. Her hobbies were gardening and sending greeting cards to friends, along with square dancing and watching the World Series baseball games. In her later years, Willa enjoyed using the computer and sent many e-mails. Over the years, she had collected approximately 450 owls, from England, France, Japan, Israel and many, many states. She loved them all. Willa also enjoyed writing; she wrote and printed two books of memories for her family. After Bernard's death, Willa moved to an apartment in Red Oak and in November of 2017, she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society.

Willa was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 52 years, Bernard on January 5, 1997; sons: Keith in 1973 and Jeffrey in 2017 and brother, Ed Rector in 1995.

Willa is survived by three children: Steve (Kathryn Nuss) Palmquist of Cedar Falls, IA, Tom Palmquist of rural Red Oak, IA and Joyce (Al) Hargis of Council Bluffs, IA; 5 grandchildren: Jason Palmquist, Melanie (Brian) Gravdal, Melissa Rindone, Jessica (Jared) Pelzer and Aaron (Sasha) Rindone; three step-grandchildren: Al Hargis Jr, Erin Kollenkark (Erik TeStrake) and Nina (Chris) Sweeney; 12 great-grandchildren: Addison, Piper, Marlee, Oliver, Jaxton, Chrisha, Caleb, Rose, Lex, Brandt, Luke and Piper; and special niece, Cindy Wall; other relatives and wonderful friends.

May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn.

Graveside Service will be held Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.
At Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, Iowa
Jon Palmquist, Officiating
Family and friends will meet at the funeral home for procession to the cemetery at 12:30 p.m.

Open Viewing will be held Monday, May 11, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at
Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we will be following CDC guidelines and the emergency proclamation by our Governor in allowing only 10 people in our facility at a time while practicing social distancing. We appreciate your understanding of this situation.

Family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to Red Oak Good Samaritan or Alzheimer's Association.

Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.