Celia Ann Hadley Landis

Celia Ann Hadley Landis passed away surrounded by her loving family on Friday, August 9, at the age of 60 after a courageous battle with illness. Though it was trying, through it all, Celia never gave up and maintained a positive attitude. 

Celia was born on June 27, 1964, to Howard C and Elizabeth Ann (nee Denny) Hadley; she grew up in Dallas Center before moving to Des Moines, Iowa. After graduating from Valley High School in 1982, she attended Iowa State University for two years then transferred to Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa. Celia spent several years enlisted in the Iowa National Guard and fostered a lifelong devotion to both the military and America. 

She met and fell in love with her husband James Landis in college. Immediately after their wedding ceremony, they moved to Germany on military orders where they had their first daughter Jennifer. Together, they moved with the Army to Killeen, Texas; the Republic of Panama where they had their second daughter Megan; and Washington, D.C., before settling in Virginia.

Celia was a devoted wife, mother, and friend known for her kindness and generosity. She appreciated everybody that she met and every person that knew Celia was endeared to her. She always made time for anyone who needed her and was always willing to lend a hand—whether they were family, friends, neighbors, or strangers. A fond story is from when Celia was living in Germany: she gave a ride to a hitchhiking East-German grandmother to the train station, even though she didn’t speak German, and the grandmother didn’t speak English. 

She enjoyed supporting her church, working in her garden, and exploring different crafts, the most recent of which were knitting and basket weaving. While Celia held various jobs and hobbies throughout the years, her true love was taking care of and spending time with her husband, children, and family pets. Her love is in the hearts of all those she touched, and her absence will be felt by everyone who knew her, but the impact she had on everyone's life will endure long after she is gone. She can rest in peace because of the peace she instilled in others. 

She is survived by her beloved husband James Landis, two daughters Jennifer Landis and Megan Sullivan, son-in-law Justin Sullivan, sisters Gayla Zenz and Melanie Batcher, mother-in-law Gayle Landis, brother-in-law Michael Landis, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth Ann and Howard C Hadley. 

A viewing will take place on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 5:30-6:30 followed by a memorial service to celebrate Celia’s life, which will be concluded by a reception at Cunningham United Methodist Church located at 3389 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. A subsequent service and funeral will take place in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday, August 19, 2024, at Iles Westover Funeral Home, 6337 Hickman Rd.