Juanita Niehus, Inspirational Teacher and Longtime Volunteer, Dead at 105

Juanita Niehus, an influential teacher, wife of a former Plainfield school superintendent and a devoted volunteer for many Plainfield groups, has died at age 105.

Mrs. Niehus had been living at the Colonnades in Charlottesville, Va., where she moved in 2005 to be closer to her daughter. It is where she passed away on Sunday.

But for more than 50 years, Plainfield schools and local causes were her life, and continues to honor her and her husband with the annual , presented to a staff member who shows extraordinary commitment to the district’s students. It was established in 1986, the year after Walter Niehus died.

Mrs. Niehus taught Latin, Spanish, French, English and math over her 50-year academic career, and one Plainfield High School graduate who's now a Yale University professor recalled her dedication to her students, even when she was well into her 60s.

“Juanita Niehus took our Latin Club to two national conventions (when she was 63). One was in Kansas City, which involved a bus ride of some 20 hours,” said Burt Saxon, quoted in a 2008 article published by her alma mater, Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill., where she was the school’s oldest living alumnus.

“In retrospect, I am amazed at Mrs. Niehus’ energy. You need a lot of energy to keep up with teenagers, who seem to have an endless supply.”

Saxon described Niehus as demanding – she required an hour of Latin study a night or you’d quickly find yourself falling behind in class, he said – but also extremely dedicated.

She was a teacher often described as inspirational, and up until her death, she continued to get more than 300 Christmas and birthday cards every year from former students, according to her obituary, published Wednesday in the Charlottesville Daily Progress.  

Mrs. Niehus was actively involved in the Plainfield United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and held numerous leadership positions, according to her obituary. She was a 4-H and Girl Scout leader, a “storybook lady” at the Plainfield Public Library, and an active member of the Plainfield Historical Society, the Friends of the Library, and the American Red Cross.

She was held in such high esteem that she was chosen to be the grand marshal for the Plainfield Homecoming Parade in 1992.

Even when she was in her 90s, she was still serving meals at the Senior Center. At the Colonnades, she made rounds of the hallways several times a day, chatting with residents and greeting the staff, her obituary said.

In the Lincoln College article, she attributed her longevity to drinking three glasses of milk a day, eating moderately (she never weighed more than 95 pounds), never smoking or drinking, walking every day, doing crossword puzzles and never worrying.

"I loved what I did. I loved to learn. I loved to go to school and so I went to school and I became a teacher and I was a teacher for 50 years,” Mrs. Niehus told the Daily Progress in a 2010 story on centenarians.

“I loved teaching and I loved my students. When you love what you do, it’s never a burden and you never have to worry. Worry is not good for you.”

Overcoming worry and obstacles was the hallmark of her early life in Indiana, where she was born in 1906, the Lincoln College story said. She had measles, whooping cough and spinal meningitis as a toddler, and her family was thrown into financial hardship when her father died when she was young.

She attended Lincoln College on a scholarship, but had to wait tables in the dining hall, baby-sit and clean houses in order to support herself while in school.

Mrs. Niehus met her husband at her first teaching job at Deer Creek School, near Lincoln. She was hired to teach Latin and Spanish and to teach girls physical education. Walter Niehus was a teacher and basketball coach. They wed in 1934, and were married for 51 years.

The couple relocated to the Minooka-Plainfield area when Walter Niehus became the local school superintendent, a job he held until his retirement.

Mrs. Niehus is survived by daughter Lois (John) Post of Keswick, Va., son Edward (Bonnie) Niehus of Galesburg, Ill.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren and 11 step-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Mrs. Niehus’ life was held at the Colonnades on Wednesday; a memorial service at the Plainfield United Methodist Church will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 1.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Niehus’ name to the Plainfield School District Foundation for Excellence, 15732 Howard St., Plainfield, 60544.