Willet "Pete" Deane Cornell

Pete Cornell, 90, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on November 13, 2025 at Walnut Ridge Nursing Home in Clive, Iowa.

Born Willet Deane Cornell on August 16, 1935, in a farm house southeast of Ottumwa, he was the son of Glen and Icel (Roquet) Cornell. When Willet was a young boy, he acquired the nickname “Pete” and it stayed with him during his lifetime. One day as a toddler, he began his artistic journey with a green crayon and a piece of paper. A whole new world opened up and became his passion for life.

Pete graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1953 and enrolled at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he spent the next 5 years of his education. Upon graduation and his return to Iowa, Pete joined the staff of LOOK Magazine as a designer and illustrator and it was there that he met the love of his life, Mary Lou Gean. They were united in marriage on February 9, 1962 in Des Moines. The couple began their married life in Ottumwa and then Des Moines, Iowa. Later, they moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa where they raised their family. Pete and Mary moved back to Des Moines and then retired to Cherokee Village, Arkansas. They moved to West Des Moines in 2009 to be closer to family.

Pete had an extended career as a designer, illustrator and art director for many other national and international publishers, manufacturing companies and advertising agencies, headquartered in the Midwest. During his successful career, Pete maintained an intense interest in the “fun” part of the visual arts. He taught private and adult education painting and drawing classes for many schools, colleges, universities and art centers in Iowa and Arkansas. He also was active in judging art shows and showing his work in Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas. Pete won many awards in juried shows at art centers and galleries across the Midwest. When Pete moved back to West Des Moines in 2009, he became a member of the Saturday Sketch Club, where local artists gathered to create and share art with one another.

Pete was a mentor and teacher to many over the years, as he encouraged them to grow further in their abilities. He saw the potential in everyone to explore their creativity, even when they thought they had none. He would talk about “what artists do,” which is “to see the beauty in the world that no one else sees.” Part of Pete’s artistic legacy was creating a large mural over the baptistry at Ottumwa Baptist Temple in the 1960s, which still exists to this day. At his current church, First Baptist Church of Greater Des Moines in Johnston, he continued to paint various artistic works.

Pete was a car aficionado. He enjoyed fine sports cars and also restored a 1956 Chevy Nomad. He collected and displayed model cars of the ones he once owned. His favorite car he owned was a black Thunderbird with a saddle-tan interior.
Pete’s health began to decline earlier this year as he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He moved to Walnut Ridge Nursing Home in September 2025. Pete was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Mary Cornell; his parents, Glen and Icel Roquet Cornell; his granddaughter, Amanda Brady; his brothers-in-law, Billy Joe Gean, Larry Gean, Chuck Gean, and Donnie Gean; and his sisters-in-law, Winnie Lewis and Linnie Eaker.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Kevin Cornell and partner, Tammy Golden of Jackson, MS, Laura (Dan) Bathje of Colorado Springs, CO, and Glen (Jill) Cornell of Windsor Heights, IA; his grandchildren: Lindsay Cornell, Kayleigh (Josh) Jolly, Seth Bathje, Emily Bathje, Josiah Bathje, Mark Bathje, Nora Cornell and Lily Cornell; 5 great-grandchildren; his brother, Carl (Lowella) Cornell of Clermont, FL; his sisters-in-law, Connie Gean of Searcy, AR and Charlotte Massey (Jerry) of Greenbriar, AR; his brothers-in-law, Bobby Gean of Marshalltown, IA, and Ron Gean (Carol) of West Memphis, AR.

Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA where family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025 prior to the service officiated by Pastor Terry Amann at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow.

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