Juanita J. Akin

Juanita Josephine (Hawkey) Akin, 95, passed away on February 26, 2025, in Waterloo, Iowa. 

Juanita was born on September 13, 1929, to Leslie Joseph and Helen DeEtta (Beatty) Hawkey in Wagner, South Dakota. She grew up alongside eight siblings and graduated high school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Juanita married Donald Lyle Akin on October 17, 1947, in Luverne, Minnesota. Later that year, Juanita and Donald moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where together they built a life and raised a family. Juanita and Donald remained there for nearly six decades before relocating to Waterloo, IA in 2005, where she lived until her passing. 

For many years, Juanita worked as a waitress at the Palmer House Café in Sioux City. Her dedication and warm presence made her a familiar face to many patrons from 1965 until the café closed in the early 2000s. 

Juanita was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was the last surviving of nine siblings and was predeceased by her brothers Leslie, Harold, and Thomas; sisters Lorene, Helen, Annabelle, Kay, and Donna; and her husband of 62 years, Donald Lyle Akin. 

Juanita is survived by her five children: Donita (David) McCarville of Waterloo, IA, Donald Jr. (Terri) Akin of Manhattan, KS, Richard (Sandy) Akin of Kelseyville, CA, Pamela (Brian) Rice of Omaha, NE, and Michael (Dianna) Akin of Ninety Six, SC; sister-in-law Dorothy Church of Sioux City, IA; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. 

Juanita’s memory will live on through the family she cherished and the many lives she touched over the years.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Memorial Park 6605 Morningside Ave. Sioux, City, IA. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to St. Jude’s in Juanita’s memory.