Willa Mae (Sommerfeld) Taylor

Willa Mae Taylor, 77, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Willa was born December 28, 1948, in Omaha, Nebraska. She is preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Pauline Sommerfeld. She is survived by her husband and the love of her life, Phill Taylor, with whom she shared 24 years of marriage and who will carry her memory with him every day. She also leaves behind her two daughters and their families: Tia King and her husband J.D. of Papillon, Nebraska, and their children McKenzie, Dakota, and Kassidy; and Tara Todd and her husband Mark of Staunton, Virginia, and their children Henry and Sadie. She is also survived by her dear friends, including her beloved best friend Erin.

From an early age, Willa showed a gift for music, earning first chair viola in her high school symphony. She graduated in 1970 from Westmar College with a double major in psychology and sociology, then went on to build a long career at Krysilis in Clarion, Iowa. In her later years, she served as a proctor at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.

In her final days, Willa was cared for with great tenderness and dedication by her daughter Tia, whose steady presence was a comfort and a gift.

A creator at heart, Willa put her hands to many things — new dishes in the kitchen, doll clothes at the sewing machine, and dozens of cross-stitch pieces crafted over the years. She taught herself to play the piano. She also channeled her creativity into planning special events and activities across several careers.

Willa had a passion for experience and a genuine curiosity about the world. She loved words — their precision and their power — and could hold her own in any trivia contest. She was an avid reader, a devoted watcher of films, and someone who found as much delight in the birds and plants outside her window as in the adventures she sought further afield. She loved to travel, exploring destinations from the coast of Maine to the landscapes of New Mexico, and she embraced adventure with enthusiasm — including a hot air balloon ride over New Mexico. She loved playing games and knew how to bring fun into a room. She created traditions that anchored family life: Sunday dinners, music, and holidays and seasons made magical by her touch — the kinds of rituals that people carry with them long after they’re grown.

Willa will be remembered for her creativity, her love of living fully, and the fun she brought to life. She will be missed.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.