Juanita Lucy Danko

Juanita was born January 4, 1928, in Springfield, IL, the daughter of John W. and Edna P. (Russell) Wunderlich. She married John Thomas Danko on June 5, 1948, at Sacred Heart Church in Springfield, and they enjoyed 57 loving years of marriage. Her Johnny preceded her in death on June 11, 2005. Juanita was also preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Rosemarie Sullivan and Mary S. Humphrey, and niece, Brenda Kay.

Juanita is survived by her niece, Kathy (husband, Gary) Zimmerman, and their sons Zachary and Tyler; nephews, Ken (wife, Gail) Humphrey, and Brian Jay Sullivan; great-nieces, Suzanne (husband, Giovanni) Colombo and their children, Claudia Colombo and Gian Antonio Colombo; and great-niece, Mary (husband, Jim) Roach and their son, Reier Deloney.

Both Juanita and John were employed in food service throughout their careers. After high school, Juanita went to work as a waitress at the Leland Hotel where John was employed as a kitchen helper. They met in 1946 and married two years later. She continued working at the Leland’s Sunbrella Room for 20 years where she served guests such as Adlai Stevenson, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Red Skelton, James Garner, and many other interesting celebrities. She ended her career in the 1990s after serving the downtown lunch crowd at Springfield’s Maldaner’s Restaurant for 20 years.

Juanita was a compassionate caregiver for her family, especially her mother-in-law, Anna Danko, fondly called “Matz,”; her mother, Edna; and her sister-in-law, Anne until their deaths, and finally her husband John, until she could no longer care for him on her own.

Although she was not granted her fondest wish to have children of her own, she did the next best thing and adopted dozens of family members, friends, and neighbors throughout the years, and they reciprocated her love! The Danko’s 40 plus years on 21st Street found them surrounded by the most awesome neighbors, her dearest friend and garage sale companion, Betty Hagele; devoted next-door neighbors, Nan Wynn and husband Jim Leinicke; Paula Petrilli; Steve and Mary Keldermans; and many others.

In the years after she lost her soulmate Johnny, she relied more on her nieces, as well as neighbors, for help and companionship. Nieces Kathy Zimmerman and Gail Humphrey faithfully filled her weekly grocery list, accompanied by a beer and a visit! Suzanne Colombo and Mary Roach dined with Juanita regularly at her favorite restaurants on Wednesday or Thursday which was “Girls’ Night Out,” come rain or snow or gloom of night!

As she needed more personal help at home, caregiver, Latisha Sunshyne Brooks, was the “Gold Medal Winner” --bar none! She always went above and beyond the call of duty. She and Juanita loved each other, and she remains a dear friend of the family! When her health declined, she became a resident of Lewis Memorial Christian Village. Juanita’s family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers there for their care and friendship to Juanita.

Juanita was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. She was a woman of great faith whose most favored expression was, “Jesus, help me!” and He usually did! She was an accomplished cook and a talented writer who expressed beautiful thoughts and intimate stories, some of which she shared and others she kept as a kind of personal journal.

Visitation and Funeral Mass: Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2125 N. 21st Street, Springfield. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. George Nellikunnel, celebrant.

Burial will take place at Rochester Cemetery with luncheon to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Aloysius Church, 2000 Sangamon Ave., Springfield, IL 62702 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL.