Lorraine I. (Willie) Taylor

Lorraine I. (Willie) Taylor, 88, died peacefully at her lake home in Okoboji, Thursday, July 28, 2016. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 1, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor Eric Hauan officiating. Visitation will be held for 2 hours prior, from 12 to 2 p.m. on Monday also at the church. Interment will be held in East Lawn Cemetery. Lorraine Inez Willrett, the daughter of Albert R. and Anna G. (Wibben) Willrett was born September 23, 1927, on the family farm, 2 miles east and a quarter mile south of Fenton. She grew up attending a country school the first couple of years, then parochial school through the eighth grade and graduated from Fenton high School in 1945. Willie loved to dance. It was during one of her outings at the local ballrooms that she met Mitch J. Taylor. The love between them grew and the couple later married in Algona on December 28, 1946. To this union six children were born. Together the couple owned and operated Algona Flour & Feed. Willie and Mitch loved to golf and travel. They spent their summers in Okoboji, many of their winters in Florida, and later in Arizona visiting family and friends. Her...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

tivities throughout the years included being in the church choir for over 60 years and choir director for the Thursday School. She was a former Trinity Women president, Charter member of the Eve circle, Secretary of the Cradle Role, and she started the Cherub Choir. Willie was a member of the hospital auxiliary, she was a hospital volunteer, and drove for Meals on Wheels. Her great friends have always been her church, bridge club, and sewing club friends. Willie Taylor lived everyday with zest. Her spunky attitude and positive outlook were infectious to her family and all those that surrounded her. Willie had a love for life and a determination that was unmatched. She was a role model for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved playing bridge and happy hour visits with her friends while in Algona. Willie enjoyed spending summers in Okoboji, sitting in her lookout watching the lake, reading a good book, going for boat rides, or just taking in her surroundings. Every Okoboji memory is filled with Willie's smile and laughter. She is survived by her children, Linn (William) Passick of Mesa, AZ and Okoboji, IA, Larry (Jeanne) Taylor of Urbandale, IA, Jean Pratt of Schertz, TX, Jacque (John) Hoch of Knoxville, IA, JoAnn (Gerald) Schultz of McQueeny, TX and Lisa (Larry) Westberg of Algona; fourteen grandchildren; thirty four great-grandchildren; sister, Kathryn Gross of Phoenix, AZ; sisters-in-law, Lettie Willrett of Texas, and Patricia Taylor of Algona, as well as many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mitch Taylor; granddaughter, Kari Westberg; brother, Carroll Willrett and brother-in-law, Richard Gross.