Donita Wernes

Donita was born June 22, 1932 in Pleasanton, KS to Jesse and Helen Crawford.  She was called home to the Lord on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

Donita grew up in Pleasanton and Kansas City, KS.  She attended Washington (Rural) High School and graduated in 1950.  She met the love of her life, Don Wernes, and they married in Jun, 1950.  In 68 years and 10 months of marriage, they enjoyed a very loving life, including the birth of 2 children.

Donita was devoted to her family in thought and deed.  She served as a group leader for both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.  Those scouts will recall fond, fun memories of making taffy, Christmas pageants, selling cookies and craft making.  As a daughter, sister, wife and mother, she enjoyed spending time playing games with everyone, including her great granddaughters.  In her high school band, she played the bass drum.  However, when the band marched in a parade, she had to play the cymbals.

Donita claims she was timid as a child, quickly adding “boy did I grow out of that!”  The family dubbed Donita the “Crusader Rabbit”-never taking “no” for and answer and never giving up on what others considered lost causes.  Many roadblocks were plowed through and paved over thanks to Donita’s indomitable spirit.

Donita’s spiritual foundations were deep as a child.  Donita’s dad was active in the church and remembers him leading the family in singing hymns in the car during long drives.  Some of the hymns became Donita’s favorites- “In the Garden”, “God Be with You ‘til we Meet Again”, and selections from Alan Jackson’s Precious Memories album of Christian hymns.

As well as her family, Donita was committed to her service to children through church, Donita humbly replied, “I just wanted to.”  Her goal, “I hoped that they would believe in Jesus”.  Not surprisingly, Donita’s favorite bible verse is John 3:16: “For god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Along with devotion to her faith and family, Donita loved traveling.  Sites that impressed her the most include Christ of the Ozarks, Grand Ole Opry, National Cathedral in D.C., National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the Punch Bowl Crater.

Donita is proud of all her children.  “I have peace-my kids, my grandkids, and my great-grandkids are good people.

Donita was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Mary and Margaret (Peggy)

She is survived by her husband-Don, son-Donald, Jr, daughter-Donna, grandson-Travis, granddaughter-Megan (Robert), great-granddaughters-Kaelea and Madylen, sister-Rachel and brother-Sam, and many loving nieces, nephews, Cousins and friends.

Visitation will be held at 12:00 pm Friday, May 3, 2019 at Johnson County Funeral Chapel with the funeral service to be held at 1:00 pm Friday at Johnson County Funeral Chapel 11200 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS. Burial will be held at the Johnson County Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shawnee Presbyterian Church, Shawnee, KS; Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, Lenexa, KS; or your favorite charity.