Waunita Sobotka Lenox

Waunita Sobotka, 86, of Lenox died Dec. 17, 2012, in Des Moines.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at Ritchie Funeral Home, 124 S. Main St., Lenox. Interment will be in North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Visitation with family present will be noon until service time Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials can be given in Waunita's name. Online condolences may be left at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com.

Opal Waunita (Brand) Sobotka, daughter of Edith (Hutchison) and Roy Brand, was born June 20, 1926. She lived her entire life in Taylor and Ringgold counties in Iowa.

Waunita attended rural schools and graduated from Creston High School in 1945. She then attended teachers college and taught in rural schools for two years.

In 1948, Waunita married Leo Sobotka. The couple made their home in Taylor County, where they were employed on the Fred Bruner Farm.

In 1967, they moved into Lenox where Leo was employed by Caines and Reeds Oil Stations.

Waunita worked various jobs.

Waunita was a member of Lenox United Methodist Church.

Because of failing health the past 21 months, Waunita resided at Lenox Care Center.

Waunita is survived by her sons, Alan Sobotka of Jamesport, Mo., Paul (wife Cathy) Sobotka of Sheldahl and Roger (wife Carla) Sobotka of Lenox; grandson Chris (wife Myndi) Sobotka of Cedar Rapids; granddaughters, Barbara (husband Mark) Baumgardner of Cambridge, Jennifer Sobotka (friend Kevin Masemann) of Nevada, Jolene (husband Jay) Johnson of Cordova, Tenn., Julie (husband Michael) Showers of Weldon, Jody (husband Kevin) Horstman of Prairie City, Jamie (husband Mitch) Killion of Creston, Aimy Anderson (fiancé David Twigg) of Des Moines, Leslie Cory (fiancé Jason Cobb) of Des Moines and Nicole Snyder of Red Oak; 24 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law Dorothy Sobotka of Cainsville, Mo.; sisters-in-law, Marilyn (husband George) Hollinger of Omaha, Neb., Martha Belle (husband Rod) Davis of Sidney and Jorene Sobotka of Creston; sister Bernita (husband Don) Tharp of Show Low, Ariz.; along with many other family members and friends.

Waunita was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 2011; son Robert John Sobotka; grandchildren, Casey Ryan Sobotka, David and Linda Sobotka at infancy; great-granddaughter Bailey Hilton; and brothers-in-law, Melvin Sobotka and Eldon Sobotka.