Mildred Wignall

MILDRED ROSALIA WIGNALL

Cedar Rapids

Mildred Rosalia Wignall died peacefully in her home in Pearland, Texas, on May 1, 2016.

Milli, daughter of Rosalia (Young) Knauer and Col. John G. Knauer, was born in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24, 1920. During the course of her father's career, she lived on Corregidor Island, Philippines, Fort Totten, N.Y., Washington, D.C., the Panama Canal Zone and Denver, Colo. She graduated from Denver University, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. During the war years, she worked in Washington, D.C., for the National Education Association, where she illustrated the Consumer Education Study books.

Milli married her husband of 71 years, Herbert Wignall, on Feb. 4, 1945. They lived in Cedar Rapids for 32 years before moving to Barrington, Ill., Oklahoma City, Okla., and finally to Pearland in 1981.

Milli was known for her prolific artwork, including her watercolors, oils and annual Christmas card. In Cedar Rapids, she was a member of the Creative Artists group and taught oil painting at the YWCA. She was also a member of Indian Creek Country Club in Marion.

Survivors include her husband, Herbert; sister, Virginia Watson; daughter, Laura (Philip) Rovang of Lindenhurst, Ill.; sons, Thomas (Mary) Wignall of Lakeville, Minn., and James (Karen) Wignall of Urbandale, Iowa; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Karl Knauer.

A memorial service was held on May 9 in Pearland, Texas. Interment will occur at a later date in Cedar Rapids.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association and the American Heart Association.