Willa Mae visited our mother, Clarabelle Shrout, on multiple occasions. She was an visiting Angel to many residents of Oak Grove Nursing and Rehab. Such a wonderful person. She will be missed by many, many people. Kathy Wall
Willa Mae Thomas
Willa Mae Thomas, 93, of Robbinsdale, MN, formerly of Oak Grove, MO, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in her home. Funeral services will be held at Grace Baptist Church in Oak Grove on Wednesday, September 30th, with visitation at 9:30 a.m. and funeral at 10:00 a.m., followed by burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church.
Willa Mae was born on March 8, 1933, in Corder, MO, the daughter of William J. and Ruby C. (Parks) Pennell. She enjoyed being with people and ministering to them. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Oak Grove for 36 years. She was also a church pianist for many years starting at an early age. Willa Mae visited and ministered to many residents of Oak Grove Nursing Home every day while her husband was there and for many years after his death in 2014. Throughout her entire life, Willa Mae never failed to take advantage of an opportunity to witness to God’s grace. After moving to Minnesota to be near her daughter, she attended Mission Orthodox Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, where she continued to be active until January of this year, when injuries prohibited her from attending.
Willa Mae was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert “Bob” Earl Thomas; brother, Brian J. Pennell; and nephew, Brent Pennell.
Her survivors include her daughter, Joy Kreisel (Randy) of Robbinsdale, MN; granddaughter, Rachel Kreisel Erickson of Rochester, MN; grandson, Joel Kreisel (Shannon) of Hopkins, MN; six great-grandchildren: Naomi, Hannah, & Miriam Erickson and Asher, Eliza, & Juniper Kreisel; niece, Cindy Pennell Gosney (Kelly); and nephew, Jay Pennell (Nina).
Arrangements by Royer Funeral Home in Oak Grove, Missouri
Condolences
Kathy Wall Merle Owsley Sundwall Sorry to hear. Willa Mae visited in my home a few years ago. She was kin to my husband, Billy Sundwall. I am visiting my daughter in Washington so will be unable to attend her funeral Merle Owsley Sundwall
Peggy Witt Willa Mae had the purest heart of any Christian I have ever known. She was a true servant of the Lord. She volunteered at Oak Grove Nursing Home and brought the love of the Lord through her servanthood and her Bible studies every day. For years she would wake up at 5 a.m. to call a friend who was blind in a Veterans’ nursing home and read the Bible to him daily. She was a friend to anyone who ever met her. I NEVER heard her speak an ill word about anyone or anything. I know she will have many jewels in her crown in heaven for the joy and love she brought to so many. She had a heart of gratitude and servanthood. I am greatly blessed to have known her. I will miss her terribly.
Erin Giffin I worked at the oak Grove nursing and rehab center for many years and Willa Mae was right beside me for many of those years. She was a very good hearted woman and very strong in her faith and she was very helpful to me many times and to many of the residents there. Bless her soul and she is with God enjoying her time now