Willasson, Margaret 'Maggie'

Margaret “Maggie” Willasson, 88, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House, Hiawatha. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A private family inurnment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Maggie was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on July 23, 1925. Her parents were John E. Young and Faye Hutson Young. During her lifetime, Maggie lived in Waterloo and Mason City, Iowa; Hollywood, Calif.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Chicago. Maggie moved to Cedar Rapids with her family in 1940. Maggie resided in Cedar Rapids until her death.

Maggie was in the banking business, until her retirement in 1986. She then became a part time switchboard operator for Smulekoffs Home Furnishings store until her health forced her to resign.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Leslie Buse; stepmother, Jean Young; a nephew, David John Webster; a brother-in-law, David R. Webster; and a stepbrother, William Buse.

Maggie is survived by her friend and companion, William R. Ryan, they met in 1973; a sister, Janet Webster of Cedar Rapids; nieces, Susan (Tom) Titus, Elizabeth (Jeff) Johannsen and Kathryn Buwalda; a stepbrother, Fredrick “Bud” Buse; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Maggie graduated from Franklin High School with the class of 1943. She attended Iowa Stated Teachers college. Maggie was married to and divorced from R.D. Willasson. Maggie was a member of the Iowa chapter of the Descendants of the Mayflower Society, a former DAR and a member of the Cedar Rapids Elks lodge #251.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Hospice House of Mercy or a charity of the donor's choice.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left to the Willasson's family by visiting under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 22, 2013.