Eleanor Juliana Hegland

Eleanor Hegland (nee Newhall), the beloved widow of the late Donald E Hegland, passed away Sept. 26, 2024, the day of Hurricane Helene, at Pruitt Health, North Tampa, FL, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

Eleanor was born on Nov. 2, 1936, in DeKalb Illinois, to John Floyd Newhall and Ida Senja Harju. Eleanor was the fifth generation of Newhalls to live on the farm on Anderland Road in DeKalb. Four prior generations, including John Floyd, Roy, Frank, and John Phillip, were farmers. The ancestors of Eleanor’s paternal grandparents, Roy Newhall and Lurena Asenath Smith, trace back to early American settlers.

Eleanor was descended from several Mayflower passengers including the Allerton family and over a dozen Revolutionary War soldiers. She was also a distant cousin to Eli Whitney II, inventor of the cotton gin. Eleanor’s maternal grandparents, John Wilhelm Harju and Edla Kivineva, were immigrants from Finland around the turn of the 20th century. Eleanor was very proud of her early American and Finnish heritage.

Eleanor was a graduate of DeKalb Township High School, DeKalb, IL, where she met her husband of 56 years, Donald E Hegland. They married in 1957 and later lived in Ames, Iowa, and Cleveland, Ohio, before returning to the northern Illinois area. Eleanor was an efficient secretary and administrative assistant during her working years, most notably at the former Ameritrust of Cleveland, before returning to Illinois. Following their return, Eleanor dedicated her time to the care of her mother and mother-in-law in their later years.

Eleanor and Don were members of the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club and Illinois Farm Bureau. They dedicated their free time to the local fairs, steam shows, and anything supporting the American farmer.

Additionally, they enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii.

Eleanor is survived by her daughter, Dr. Kathryn Leenhouts of Tampa, FL; son, David Hegland of Lisle (Chicago area), IL; grandsons Donald Leenhouts of Tempe, AZ, and Forrest Rosenberg of Tampa, FL; cousin Janet Webster of Fort Mill, SC; additional cousins, extended family, and friends; and her beloved cat, Baby, who is in David’s care. She was preceded in death by her parents John Floyd Newhall and Ida Senja Newhall and her husband, Donald E. Hegland.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Keystone United Methodist Church, 16301 Race Track Road, Odessa, FL 33556, with the Rev. Kathi Sheehan officiating. The family will receive friends immediately before the service at 10:00 a.m.

Following the service, a luncheon will be held in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, or Samaritan’s Purse, or Metropolitan Ministries for hurricane relief. The family would like to express appreciation to the following for their care of Eleanor. The Auberge Memory Care of Naperville, IL; Angels Senior Living at Idlewild, Lutz, FL; St. Joseph North Hospital, Lutz FL; Aspire on Fletcher, Tampa, FL; AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, FL; Pruitt Health North Tampa, FL; AdventHealth Tampa; AccentCare Hospice of Tampa; Kathryn’s colleagues at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel especially Drs. Khan and Walsh; and numerous other nursing and support staff who gave their best.

Arrangements in the care of Blount and Curry Funeral Home - Carrollwood, 3207 W. Bearss Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33618.