Juanita Wheeler, beloved companion, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend passed away on April 4, 2025.
Juanita, born on March 26, 1936 in Mingo, Missouri, was the second child of Cornelius “Bud” Reed and Reta Powell Reed. Her older sister was Geneta Reed and later the girls were joined by a brother, Vivan Reed. The family lived in the southern Illinois area until Bud’s untimely death in 1941. Reta and the children then moved to Puxico, Missouri to be near family. In 1945, Reta met and married Raymond Roser and the family remained in Puxico. Juanita attended school in Puxico and was very active in school activities. She was a cheerleader and a member of the volleyball team that went undefeated in the four years of high school.
Upon graduation in 1954, Juanita married Tommy Wheeler and moved to St. Louis where their only child, Kim, was born in 1956. The family eventually moved to Alton, Illinois where Juanita worked as a store clerk and attended cosmetology school. Her love for volleyball continued by joining a couple’s league at the YMCA and she organized pickup games in an empty lot in the neighborhood where adults and kids played during evenings and weekends. She also was a member of bowling leagues and loved to play Scrabble with the neighborhood ladies.
After her divorce in the late 1970’s, she met St. Louis bandleader Bob Kuban in a hallway as they were coming out of their respective restrooms during a set break where he was performing at the Godfrey Civic Center in Godfrey, Illinois. As the saying goes – “the rest is history” – as this was the beginning of a 45+ year relationship as loving soulmates. Juanita enjoyed attending Bob’s performances at many musical events, St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and football games, Las Vegas trips, cruises, dinners with friends, or just sitting on the couch watching golf. During these years, they were never apart for more than a couple of days and never had an argument. A truly amazing journey through life together! When Bob passed away on January 20, 2025, Juanita’s life light dimmed also and she went to join him shortly afterwards. We can take comfort and joy that they are now together again.
Juanita is survived by her daughter Kim and son-in-law Mike Zarantonello, niece Sheryl (Barry) Reynolds, great niece Brooke Reynolds, nephew John Campbell, brother Vivan (Judy) Reed, brother-in-law Tom Head and granddaughter Finnley Hope and her children Stella Hope and Edison Drier. She was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather, sister Geneta Head, niece Deb Campbell, and great nephew Taylor Reynolds.
Juanita will be greatly missed but forever remembered by all who knew her. Chapel services will be held on Thursday April 17 at 1:00 pm at Resurrection Cemetery, 6901 McKenzie Road in St. Louis. Kutis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, the online guest book can be found at KutisFuneralHomes.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Juanita to the Puxico R-8 School District, Attn. Darla Crain, 481 N. Bedford Street, Puxico, Missouri 63960 to support the volleyball program.