Willa Mae Kriese was born on 06 July 1921 in Eldon, Iowa, the eighth of ten children born to Philip Kriese and Ona McKinney. Willa Mae's father owned a road construction company, so the family moved regularly, following jobs throughout southeastern Iowa and southwestern Illinois. In those days, road work consisted of crews of men using horse drawn equipment to resurface the thoroughfares and carve new roads through virgin land.
By the time Willa Mae was ready to attend high school, the family had permanently settled in Sigourney, Iowa. Willa Mae graduated with the class of 1940. Upon graduation, she was working in Ottumwa, Iowa where she met Jack Beckman. Jack was embarking on a military career and asked Willa Mae to marry him and accompany him to Texas where he was deployed for training. After less than a year of being married, Jack and Willa Mae separated. Willa Mae returned to Iowa, where she filed for divorce. Jack would remarry and tragically die in Europe during WWII.
When Willa Mae returned to Iowa, she took a job at Montgomery Ward in Burlington. There she met Ernest Brant. The couple married in 1942 and had a son. Shortly after the birth of their baby, Ernest became ill and died on 16 July 1943.
Willa Mae heard that she could find work in the Quad Cities area of Iowa where there were factories manufacturing essential products for the war. She asked her parents to join her in Davenport, Iowa, and they cared for her son while she found employment at the Rock Island Arsenal working on the tank production line.
While assembling tanks, she met several men just returned from the war. She dated, and when one of her love interests asked her to come to California, marry him, and start a new life, she agreed. Taking her young son with her on the train to Los Angeles, she married Larry Cockayne. Larry always provided well, taking advantage of the need for labor in post-war California. The couple welcomed two daughters in 1948 and in 1951.
Larry died in 1963, and Willa Mae decided to remain single. She said that losing two husbands was more than anyone should endure. She focused on her family. She worked at the Centinela Valley Union School District, and retired after many years of service. After retirement, Willa Mae moved to San Juan Capistrano, California, where she lived until her health required her to move to an assisted-living facility.
Willa Mae was the last of her family to pass away. She was widely and fondly known as a fun-loving woman who never gave up or gave in no matter what life dealt her. She loved to travel and play cards.
Her family and friends will miss her. Good job, Willa Mae, and we love you.
By the time Willa Mae was ready to attend high school, the family had permanently settled in Sigourney, Iowa. Willa Mae graduated with the class of 1940. Upon graduation, she was working in Ottumwa, Iowa where she met Jack Beckman. Jack was embarking on a military career and asked Willa Mae to marry him and accompany him to Texas where he was deployed for training. After less than a year of being married, Jack and Willa Mae separated. Willa Mae returned to Iowa, where she filed for divorce. Jack would remarry and tragically die in Europe during WWII.
When Willa Mae returned to Iowa, she took a job at Montgomery Ward in Burlington. There she met Ernest Brant. The couple married in 1942 and had a son. Shortly after the birth of their baby, Ernest became ill and died on 16 July 1943.
Willa Mae heard that she could find work in the Quad Cities area of Iowa where there were factories manufacturing essential products for the war. She asked her parents to join her in Davenport, Iowa, and they cared for her son while she found employment at the Rock Island Arsenal working on the tank production line.
While assembling tanks, she met several men just returned from the war. She dated, and when one of her love interests asked her to come to California, marry him, and start a new life, she agreed. Taking her young son with her on the train to Los Angeles, she married Larry Cockayne. Larry always provided well, taking advantage of the need for labor in post-war California. The couple welcomed two daughters in 1948 and in 1951.
Larry died in 1963, and Willa Mae decided to remain single. She said that losing two husbands was more than anyone should endure. She focused on her family. She worked at the Centinela Valley Union School District, and retired after many years of service. After retirement, Willa Mae moved to San Juan Capistrano, California, where she lived until her health required her to move to an assisted-living facility.
Willa Mae was the last of her family to pass away. She was widely and fondly known as a fun-loving woman who never gave up or gave in no matter what life dealt her. She loved to travel and play cards.
Her family and friends will miss her. Good job, Willa Mae, and we love you.
Willa Mae Kriese was born on 06 July 1921 in Eldon, Iowa, the eighth of ten children born to Philip Kriese and Ona McKinney. Willa Mae's father owned a road construction company, so the family moved regularly, following jobs throughout southeastern Iowa and southwestern Illinois. In those days, road work consisted of crews of men using horse drawn equipment to resurface the thoroughfares and carve new roads through virgin land.
By the time Willa Mae was ready to attend high school, the family had permanently settled in Sigourney, Iowa. Willa Mae graduated with the class of 1940. Upon graduation, she was working in Ottumwa, Iowa where she met Jack Beckman. Jack was embarking on a military career and asked Willa Mae to marry him and accompany him to Texas where he was deployed for training. After less than a year of being married, Jack and Willa Mae separated. Willa Mae returned to Iowa, where she filed for divorce. Jack would remarry and tragically die in Europe during WWII.
When Willa Mae returned to Iowa, she took a job at Montgomery Ward in Burlington. There she met Ernest Brant. The couple married in 1942 and had a son. Shortly after the birth of their baby, Ernest became ill and died on 16 July 1943.
Willa Mae heard that she could find work in the Quad Cities area of Iowa where there were factories manufacturing essential products for the war. She asked her parents to join her in Davenport, Iowa, and they cared for her son while she found employment at the Rock Island Arsenal working on the tank production line.
While assembling tanks, she met several men just returned from the war. She dated, and when one of her love interests asked her to come to California, marry him, and start a new life, she agreed. Taking her young son with her on the train to Los Angeles, she married Larry Cockayne. Larry always provided well, taking advantage of the need for labor in post-war California. The couple welcomed two daughters in 1948 and in 1951.
Larry died in 1963, and Willa Mae decided to remain single. She said that losing two husbands was more than anyone should endure. She focused on her family. She worked at the Centinela Valley Union School District, and retired after many years of service. After retirement, Willa Mae moved to San Juan Capistrano, California, where she lived until her health required her to move to an assisted-living facility.
Willa Mae was the last of her family to pass away. She was widely and fondly known as a fun-loving woman who never gave up or gave in no matter what life dealt her. She loved to travel and play cards.
Her family and friends will miss her. Good job, Willa Mae, and we love you.
By the time Willa Mae was ready to attend high school, the family had permanently settled in Sigourney, Iowa. Willa Mae graduated with the class of 1940. Upon graduation, she was working in Ottumwa, Iowa where she met Jack Beckman. Jack was embarking on a military career and asked Willa Mae to marry him and accompany him to Texas where he was deployed for training. After less than a year of being married, Jack and Willa Mae separated. Willa Mae returned to Iowa, where she filed for divorce. Jack would remarry and tragically die in Europe during WWII.
When Willa Mae returned to Iowa, she took a job at Montgomery Ward in Burlington. There she met Ernest Brant. The couple married in 1942 and had a son. Shortly after the birth of their baby, Ernest became ill and died on 16 July 1943.
Willa Mae heard that she could find work in the Quad Cities area of Iowa where there were factories manufacturing essential products for the war. She asked her parents to join her in Davenport, Iowa, and they cared for her son while she found employment at the Rock Island Arsenal working on the tank production line.
While assembling tanks, she met several men just returned from the war. She dated, and when one of her love interests asked her to come to California, marry him, and start a new life, she agreed. Taking her young son with her on the train to Los Angeles, she married Larry Cockayne. Larry always provided well, taking advantage of the need for labor in post-war California. The couple welcomed two daughters in 1948 and in 1951.
Larry died in 1963, and Willa Mae decided to remain single. She said that losing two husbands was more than anyone should endure. She focused on her family. She worked at the Centinela Valley Union School District, and retired after many years of service. After retirement, Willa Mae moved to San Juan Capistrano, California, where she lived until her health required her to move to an assisted-living facility.
Willa Mae was the last of her family to pass away. She was widely and fondly known as a fun-loving woman who never gave up or gave in no matter what life dealt her. She loved to travel and play cards.
Her family and friends will miss her. Good job, Willa Mae, and we love you.
Family Members
Siblings
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Gladys Marie Kriese Buckles
1903–2002
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Florence Agnes "Kate" Kriese Mitchell
1905–1997
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Lloyd Merle Kriese
1907–1965
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Ethel Phillipa Kriese Stull
1909–1984
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Dorothy Maxine Kriese Stensvaag
1911–1992
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Ralph Edward Kriese
1913–2003
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Ruth Irene Kriese Stensvaag
1914–2009
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Robert Walter Kriese
1925–1974
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Shelby Melvin "Jack" Kriese
1928–1978
