Denise Willson Obituary (1925 - 2013)

Denise Willson, 88, passed away on April 27, 2013 at Newton Healthcare in Newton, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 5 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 2nd at Highland Park Funeral Home, 3500 6th Avenue Des Moines. The Funeral service will be the following day, Friday, May 3rd at Epworth United Methodist Church, 412 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines at 10:30 a.m. Denise was born in Prairie City, Iowa on April 15, 1925 to Samuel and Irma (Vander Linden) McFadden. After graduating from Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in 1946, she began working as a nurse and nursing instructor for Iowa Lutheran Hospital until 1987. She married Keith Willson on July 24, 1948 and they were married for nearly 66 years. She was an active member of Epworth United Methodist Church, enjoyed square dancing, antiquing, traveling, and visiting with family and friends with her husband, Keith. After retirement, she volunteered with Hospice of Central Iowa, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, and for food banks and meals for the homeless "We can't quit just because we stop working. " Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Keith Willson of Newton, a daughter Barbara (Mike) Kaldenberg of Newton, and a son Bill (Diana) Willson of Durango, Colorado. She also has two grandchildren, Scott and Christine Kaldenberg, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Her surviving siblings include Helen (the late Tex) Kassen of Georgetown, Texas, Edith (the late Raymond) Hutchison of Newton, and Margaret (Leslie) Stokely of Richmond, Virginia. Denise's parents preceded her in death, along with her sister Jean (Dan) Bartelma, brother Lawrence (Ruth) McFadden, and sister Marilyn (Harlan) Roorda. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Epworth United Methodist Church in Des Moines or the Alzheimer's Association. Online condolence may be made thru www.petersonfuneralservice.com