Juanita Evelyn Schow

Juanita Evelyn Schow, age 98, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2024 in Big Bear, California. She was one month shy of her 99th birthday. 

Juanita was born April 11, 1925 in Englewood, Colorado to Scot-Irish parents, Paul Greenlee and Mildred McCracken. She was joined a few years later by a brother nicknamed “Bud” in 1928 and a baby sister, Gail, in 1936. She was a 1942 graduate of Englewood High School where she met her husband, Ken Schow, an upper class man.The teachers all liked Juanita. Because of her strong shorthand and other secretarial skills, she was asked to help out in the school office. It’s likely that that’s where they first saw each other. Before Ken enlisted in the Navy, they eloped and were married in July of 1941 in St. Francis, Kansas, just across the Colorado border. 

In 1946, along with her parents, they all packed up a station wagon & moved to California. They started in San Francisco where her dad had a job setting up the new Hudson Motor Car Company office as the Director of Service for the western half of the United States. They were in Long Beach for a while and ended up settling in Garden Grove, California where they raised their two children, Paula and Ken. Juanita was always one quick to laugh. And she was happiest with her family around her whether camping, skiing or playing the slots in Vegas. Many summer days would find Juanita and her family, her brother Bud’s family, and her parents picnicking in Irvine Park, or over at their home swimming and enjoying burgers on the grill. The years brought grandchildren and great-grandchildren which added to her joy in life!

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ken, sister Gail, daughter Paula and great-grandson Kenneth. She is survived by her brother “Bud” Paul Greenlee; cousins Judy Nyquist and Joann Brewer; her son Ken; grandchildren Todd, Lee, Scott, Mark, Kevin and Holly; and great-grandchildren Nathan, Mackenzie, Sydney, Madison, Jake, Madelynn, Zander, Donovan and Katibree.

A funeral service to reminisce and honor her life will be held at noon on Thursday, April 4th at the Big Bear Mortuary, 321 W Big Bear Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center.

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