NORTHWOOD, IOWA — Tanna Elizabeth Quisley, 29, a Northwood native who built a life around friendship, service and caring for others, passed away Friday, August 28, 2026, in Coralville.
A celebration of Tanna’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 4, at First Lutheran Church, 309 9th St. N. in Northwood. Family members will greet friends and relatives following the service during a time of fellowship and sharing memories.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, September 3, at First Lutheran Church.
Tanna will be laid to rest at North Shell Rock Cemetery at a later date.
Tanna was born July 9, 1997, in Mason City to David and Christine Quisley and grew up in Northwood with her sister, Julia.
Born seven weeks premature and with DiGeorge Syndrome, Tanna faced significant medical and educational challenges from an early age, including open-heart surgery when she was just four months old. Those challenges, however, did not keep her from developing an independent life filled with friends, activities, work and a determination to help others.
Tanna attended Northwood-Kensett schools from kindergarten through graduation and became a familiar and enthusiastic presence throughout the school.
She participated in Green Shamrocks, played junior high basketball and was selected as Homecoming Queen during her senior year. She was particularly proud of scoring two touchdowns during a Powder Puff football game.
Tanna also had a knack for making birthdays impossible to overlook. During school lunches she would sometimes get the cafeteria’s attention, announce a student’s birthday and lead the room in singing. That tradition of remembering people continued into adulthood, as she kept track of birthdays and routinely reached out to friends and acquaintances.
Her involvement extended to First Lutheran Church, where she was an active member of the youth group and became known by the nickname “Tanta.” She enjoyed volunteering and was also known for volunteering her parents for projects and community activities.
During her senior year at Northwood-Kensett, Tanna achieved another goal when she delivered a commencement address at graduation.
After high school, she attended the University of Iowa through the university’s Realizing Educational and Career Hopes, or REACH, program. The experience helped Tanna develop greater independence while building friendships with students from around the country.
One of those friendships was with Taylor Krotenkamp, who became Tanna’s roommate and remained a close friend in the years that followed.
Tanna also became a dedicated Iowa Hawkeyes football fan during her years in the program, regularly attending home games despite growing up in an Iowa State family.
She enjoyed Iowa City and Coralville enough that she decided to remain in the area after completing the REACH program.
Tanna first worked at Hy-Vee and later joined University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in food service.
Her work at the hospital became another opportunity to do what came naturally to her — talk with people and check on how they were doing. She enjoyed arriving early enough to visit with coworkers, patients and visitors and had a reputation for finding friends and family members when she learned they were at the hospital.
Tanna was also recognized by Goodwill of the Heartland for progress she made toward living independently and participating in her community.
Her family remembers a young woman whose persistence, humor and concern for others allowed her to form connections throughout Northwood, Iowa City, Coralville and beyond.
Tanna is survived by her parents, Dave and Christine Quisley of Northwood; sister, Julia (Nic) Weigle of Northwood; grandparents, Bill and Char Smothers of Northwood; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members, friends and coworkers.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Harold and Ruth Quisley of Northwood and Sara and Claude Cogar of Omaha, and an uncle, Jay Graham of Omaha.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the University of Iowa REACH Program or Goodwill.
Conner Colonial Chapel in Northwood is caring for Tanna and her family. To view the funeral home’s complete tribute and service information, please click here.
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