Juanita was born on November 6, 1929 in St. Louis Missouri to Blanche and Lloyd Parsons Edwards. She was the oldest of three children: sisters Carolyn (Edwards Sykes) and Norma (Edwards Richter).  Growing up in Granite City Illinois, she had a perfect attendance record for all four years of high school, marking the beginnings of a lifetime of exceptional achievements and rewards in every activity she participated in.

Juanita met Richard Kozikowski in June of 1956 in Granite City Illinois while she was working at the Army Depot and he was stationed there.  They were married August 29, 1959, which began an intensely loving marriage that lasted over 60 years.  First son David arrived in 1960.  Daughter Lisa arrived in 1963.  Middle son Joel arrived in 1966, and youngest son Steven arrived in 1972.

Over the years, the family grew to add four additional children-in-laws and seven grandchildren.

Within a year of high school graduation, she took an entry level position in the Army Depot in Granite City. She advanced her career to the position of "Budget Analyst" before leaving the workforce to raise a family. Nearly 20 years later, after her youngest child Steven was old enough, she returned to government work at Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. She ended her government career as the Chief Financial Officer of the army hospital at Ft. Ben. During her second "tour of duty", she won the "Outstanding Government Employee" award and was presented a check for $1,000 by Indiana Senator Richard Lugar.