Memorial
Paula Willett, 73, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 08, 2025, with her loving husband Jim by her side after a courageous and at times miraculous struggle with pancreatic cancer. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. The visitation will begin one hour prior to service, starting at 10:00 AM, at the chapel. A reception will follow at the Cedar Memorial Family Center.
Paula loved her friends and family, was a talented and prolific quilter, and found joy in gardening, baking, and traveling. She was a devoted and passionate Christian, who loved reading, writing, and sharing in her faith with others.
Born on March 26, 1951, in Carroll, Iowa, Paula was the daughter of Harold H. Beck and Alice A. Musfeldt. She grew up in a farming family in the Manning area, graduating from Manning High School with the class of 1969. She married Jim Willett of Tama, Iowa in 1971, and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount Mercy College in 1977. Paula worked as an RN at Mercy Hospital until 1979, at which point she took time to have and raise her two sons. In 1989, she returned to nursing, working as a traveling nurse and part-time in birth care at St. Luke’s Hospital until 2012.
Paula is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jim Willett; her sons, Matthew Willett (with wife Carole) and Jacob Willett; her grandson Evan Willett; her sisters, Judith Kelly and Marsha Beck; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her siblings Russell Beck, Robert Beck, Dennis Beck, and Christine Lettow.
The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of PCI Oncology, St Luke's Unity Point Hospital, and Unity Point Hospice@Home for assistance in her care.