Dee Williams, 61, of New Sharon, was called home to Heaven on Tuesday evening, Jan. 12, 2021, peacefully at her home after courageously battling cancer for nine years and achieving the ultimate healing through our Lord and Savior. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16, at New Sharon United Methodist Church. A private family burial was held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to North Mahaska Athletics, New Sharon United Methodist Church, or Pella Hospice.
Dee Ann Williams, the daughter of Richard and Sandra (Grubb) Olive, was born Feb. 9, 1959, in Oskaloosa. She was a 1977 graduate of North Mahaska High School. Nov. 17, 1979, Dee was united in marriage to the love of her life, Curtis Williams, at the Barnes City United Methodist Church. To this union, four children were born: Jim, Jill, Jessica, and Jaime. Dee worked at Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company for 41 years from 1977 to 2018, retiring due to health reasons. She was a hard worker and during her time at Grinnell Mutual, she worked her way up to a senior underwriter. Dee spent many hours on a school bleacher watching her children in all of their school activities. She absolutely loved her family and looked forward to Sunday get-togethers after church and having Sunday dinners and playing cards. Some of Dee’s greatest joys were spending time with her grandchildren. She was an avid reader and spent many hours doing puzzles and playing games with her grandchildren. One of Dee’s favorite traditions for over 35 years was the harvest supper that started at Bonanza in Oskaloosa and is now held at the Iowa Machine Shed where they get together for supper with her entire family. Dee was a member of New Sharon United Methodist Church where she was very active. She was involved in adult Sunday school, in Bible study, and on the nominating committee.
Dee’s legacy will be honored by her husband of 41 years, Curtis Williams of New Sharon; her children, Jim (Sarah) Williams of New Sharon, Jill (Justin) Van Soelen of Sully, Jessica (Jared) Phillips of Arlington, TX, and Jaime (Nick) Kecy of New Sharon; 12 grandchildren; her two sisters, Cindi (Mike) Burggraaf of Fairfield and Cheryl (Gary) Goemaat of New Sharon; her mother-in-law, Anna Mae Williams; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a granddaughter Naomi DeeAnn Phillips, and father-in-law Lloyd Williams.
