Juanita was born in Belleville, the second to last of 12 children of Joseph and Katherine, nee Hopfinger, Gass. She was a sharp, fun-loving, strong-willed lady and lifelong learner, loving wife, mother and grandmother who loved gardening and spending time with her family.
Juanita was a career-long Librarian at Belleville West High School and Belleville Area College (now SWIC). She also worked for the Red Cross, Collinsville District 10, and Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center. Juanita graduated from Notre Dame High School, the University of Illinois, and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and was a long-time member of St. Teresa Church.
Juanita was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Wallen; her parents; all her siblings, brothers, Norbert, Vincent, Marcel, Edward, Joseph, Anthony, and Cletus Gass; sisters, Catherine Garey, Delores Conklin, Marie Braun, and Bernice Spresser; as well as many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
She is survived by her three children, Nicolette McCullough (John) of Barnhart, MO, SooJin Wallen (Erol Weber) of Belleville, IL, and Herschel Wallen of Portland, OR; seven grandchildren, Justin Abegglen, Adam McCullough, Nicholas McCullough, Griffin Wallen, Theodore Wallen, Alyssa Brunsmann, and Elena Weber; two sisters-in-law, Wilma Gass and Janet Wilson; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross or the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 24, 2024, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2024, at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. John Myler officiating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.