Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial will be in the Winner Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 PM until 7 PM, with a prayer service at 7 PM, at the Church. Juanita Mae (Mitchell) Koskan was born November 26th, 1929, at Benkelman, NE, to Charles and Marian (Hampson) Mitchell. She was the oldest of 5 children born to this union, 2 sisters Peggy and Joan, 2 brothers; Robert "Bob", and Paul. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, Bess and Robert Hampson, at Ideal, SD. She attended grade school at Ideal for one year and completed the next seven years at Star Valley School. Juanita graduated from Winner High School in 1948 and then attended summer school at Springfield, SD, and earned her 2-year teaching permit. She taught one year at East Banner School and one year at Star Valley School. Juanita was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Milo Koskan, on June 18th, 1950. They made their home northeast of Wood, SD, where they resided until the time of their deaths. Four children were born into this union: Bonnie, Robert, John, and Kathie. Juanita passed away on Sunday, August 17th, 2014 surrounded by her family at her home. Juanita placed her love of God and family as the first priorities in her life. Her time was spent attending any activity that her family was involved in, spreading the love of God, and doing works that enhanced the well being of the community and those in it. Juanita was involved in summer Bible School programs for a total of 68 years and she was a member of the Baptist Church for 66 years, serving multiple offices including president of the Baptist State Convention and American Baptist Women, the only woman to hold State President twice. Juanita was also a long time member of the Gideon Auxiliary and served as a counselor and "camp nurse/grandma" at Baptist Camp Judson at Keystone, SD. Juanita served on the governing board of the Winner Hospital for 30 years, acting as president of the board for 22 years, and was one of the original members of the Hospital Foundation. It was Juanita who decided that a hospice program was needed in the community. She did the research and groundwork to bring the service to the area and served as a hospice volunteer after the program was established. She also served on the Mellette County Extension Board, was an original member of the Tripp County Genealogy Society, and was involved with 4-H. Juanita was a woman of many talents and interests. She wrote and published three books, became an Emergency Medical Technician at the age of 67, played piano, baked and decorated beautiful cakes, helped Milo with wedding photography, and was known for her caramels, a special treat she shared at Christmas. A scrapbook was made and kept current by Juanita for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Juanita had an eye for decorating and would decorate the halls of the Winner Hospital during each Christmas season. She also had a green thumb, which was evident by the lawn and flowers that she kept. Milo and Juanita enjoyed traveling and together visited all 50 states and many foreign countries including Mexico, Canada, the Czech Republic, and the Middle East. In addition to travel for leisure, Milo and Juanita enjoyed travel for genealogy research. They also visited every cemetery in Mellette County (42 cemeteries and 21 private burial grounds) at least twice and recorded every grave they found. A book on the cemeteries in Mellette County, "Both Feet in the Grave", was published by the couple. Left to mourn and anticipate the day that we see her again in Heaven are her family members for whom Juanita prayed for by name every day. Children: Bonnie (Alan) Blair of Grand Island, NE, Robert (Lisa) Koskan of Wood, SD, John (Verna) Koskan of Wood, SD , and Kathie Cole (Steve Bruning) of Winner, SD. Grandchildren: Fawn (David) Swift, Tracy (Danie) Koskan, Chris Lozos , Korie (Todd) Pravecek , Darin (Jessica) Blair, Joel (Sally) Koskan, Shannon (Ronnie) Weir, Joni (Matt) Healy, Darbi (Myles) McIntyre, Ethan Blair, Ryan (Pam Winkler) Koskan, Robert (Lindsey) Cole, and Devin (Kelsey) Koskan. Juanita had 46 great-grandchildren whom she cherished as well. Also left to mourn are her sister, Joan (Bobby) Conger and brothers Bob (Lois) Mitchell and Paul (Roxine) Mitchell along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. Preceding Juanita in death are her husband Milo, her sister Peggy Hall, her mother Marian Jeffrey, and her father Charles Mitchell, as well as her grandparents.