Juanita May Kaas was born as Juanita May Dawson in Fort Collins Colorado on August 15, 1921.  She was raised by her parents Grace and Raymond Dawson, along with sisters Mary Ellen, Willma Jean and Peggy.

She worked for Dupont in Denver Colorado and moved with Dupont to Richland in 1943 where she worked at the Hanford Engineering Works.  In her spare time she played softball, basketball and bowling.

On a blind date, arranged by Lenora and Houston Jackson, she met Niels Kaas and married him on October 10th, 1947.  They enjoyed snow skiing and other sports and carried on with this throughout their years together.

Mom worked at the Hanford site until Judy came along and then she was a stay at home mom until Niels retired.  She reduced her sports to bowling but kept up team playing until the 1970s.

Mom was always involved with our participation in Brownies, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.  Most times after church on Sunday we took long drives around the mid-Columbia.

The family went on trips every summer, at least every couple of years back to Denver for visits with Mom's relatives.  Most of the western US states were visited,  Mnt Rainier, Olympic Pennisula, Yellowstone National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, Redwoods, San Francisco, Disney Land.  Most summers had time spent Salmon fishing at Westport with Niel's aunt Hazel and uncle George.  Until one visit to Ilwaco when everyone caught their limits and that was the last time to Westport.  We continued our trips to Ilwaco for the next 20 years and limited every year.  This was also back in the days when the limit was 3 fish per person per day.   A few times everybody in the boat was sick including Trixie our first Pomeranian.

The family and other relatives spent time every summer on the river in their boats.  Fishing was fun but all of the children looked forward to the skiing.  The whole family along with many relatives and friends learned how to water ski and at times spent a few days a week near Bateman Island, islands in the Columbia or Sacajawea Park.  One summer we set a record for skiing with 6 skiers (Mom was one of the six) behind the boat at one time.  Since none of the ski ropes were the same length the boat had to go away from the dock at an angle.  The boat only had enough power to take us off the dock and not straight out of the water so it took a few tries.  We made a couple of loops around the river and then Gary managed to lose one of his skis so we had 5 skiers on two skis and one with a single ski.

Mom loved sports and was a Mariner fan as far back as we can remember.  She would rally from her sick bed at the moment the Mariners started playing, even after she was not responding to voices well.  Even at the end when you asked what channel the Mariners were on she knew, channel 37.

During retirement Juanita and Niels managed to visit every US state in their motor home at least once and for some many times.  The only state they missed visiting was Hawaii.  During their travels they moved from a pickup camper through three motor homes.  They always went south in January or February to spend months on the road.  Sandy has always been so grateful that she got to travel with them through Arizona for several years.  Judy and Finn were with Mom and Dad when they visited Europe.  They toured several countries and visited Dad's distant relatives.  She and dad both loved to hike and even climbed Little Brown Mountain at Picacho Peak at the age of 84, and water skied into her 60's.

They almost always had pets, over the years 5 dogs, a turtle, parakeets and hamsters.  They all became members of the family.  After each dog passed Mom would say she could not go through the heartache of them dying again but it was not long until there was another dog in the family until Tippy II who passed away at 17 years.  Tippy was a great comfort during the days after Dad passed.

Even up to near the end she told us stories, poems and songs that she had been told to her by her grandmother.  She had learned fish talk and tried to teach all of us but was not always successful.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother, two sisters and her husband, Niels Kaas, of 62 years.  She is survived by her younger sister, Peggy Dawson; daughters: Judy (Finn) Skogen, and Sandy (Dennis) Wallace; son, David; 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

She remained in her own home with the help of Hospice and several wonderful care givers.  One of which was with her daily for 4 years.  The end came fairly quickly, with no suffering.  Judy, Sandy and David were holding her hands as she passed.  Her eyes were open looking at us at the end.  It was a peaceful passing and what we had hoped for her.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 22, at Events t at Sunset from 6:00-8:00pm. A Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 23, at Sunset Gardens at 9:00am with a Celebration of Juanita’s life to follow immediately at 10:00am at Events at Sunset.