Juanita Donaville Carstens, 95, dancing queen, storyteller, and loving mother and grandmother, of Sioux City, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 15, 1919 surrounded with love, at her residence. Celebration of  Juanita’s life and spirit will be held at Waterbury Funeral Service in Sioux City at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to The Siouxland Center for Active Generations.

Born May 20, 1924 in Somers, IA to Cecilia (Vetter) and Donald Carstens, Juanita attended school and worked her first of many jobs near the Fort Dodge, IA area. She married Melvin McCalmont and they had four sons, Patrick (Diane), Jimmy, Michael, and Brian.

They moved to Sioux City where Juanita worked at multiple jobs including Zenith, St. Luke’s Hospital, Johnson Biscuit Company, and Rochester Products. She also worked as a dietician at Sunrise Retirement Community and was a banquet server at The Marina Inn.

Juanita eventually met her final dance partner, Ken Rosene, and they had many happy years until his death in 2012. Juanita loved to dance and tell stories and jokes, the naughtier the better. She enjoyed travelling and went on many adventures to see her children, grandchildren, and great-grand children and was able to visit Germany and Central America. Back at home, she enjoyed going to the casino and the Senior Center under the ruse of gambling or Bingo so she could dress up in all her beaded and bedazzled clothes to visit with friends, stir up a little trouble, and raise some eyebrows. If it had rhinestones on it she had to have it.

Juanita was so thankful for those that stopped by to visit her or help her in her final years, especially for the generosity of friends Keith and Linda Iverson; the staff and volunteers from Meals on Wheels; and JoAnn from the Senior Center who would bring her fresh vegetables, baked goods, and homemade crafts and share stories with her.

She is survived by her sons Patrick (Diane) and Michael, her grandchildren Kim, Donald, Allen, Thomas, Teresa, and Kelly (Travis); and her great grandchildren Sydney, Hannah, Emma, Olivia, LeAnn, Jayce, Ruby, Violet, Abbigail, and Ally.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, sons Jimmy and Brian, and her grandson Matthew.