Anna Heller

Anna Mae (Witt) Heller was a devoted wife, invested mother and devout Lutheran. Her faith informed her day to day life, and she readily helped others out of a sense of gratitude for all she had been given. Her work ethic was strong and her character traits were grounded in love and humility.

Anna’s story began in 1927 when Americas were excited about Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean that began May 20th and ended 33.5 hours later. The nation’s can-do spirit was also reflected in Henry Ford’s mass production of the automobile and the Suffrage Movement that won women the right to vote. Yet the economic depression that closed out the decade also shaped the character of its citizens.

Anna Mae was born September 21, 1927 in Riley Township, Michigan to German born Otto and Grace (Bronson) Witt. Anna was the fourth of seven children, growing up with two sisters and four brothers on the family dairy farm that also raised horses, pigs, and chickens and grew corn and soybeans. Coming of age during the Great Depression, money was tight and the family suffered like many others. Though she completed the 8th grade at the one room school house in Riley Township, she then stayed home to work on the farm and help support her family.

In the disciplined Riley household, Anna learned the values of hard work, close family ties and service to others. The family farm was the home to which Anna and her siblings always returned. The care she received from her parents was returned when Anna cared for her aged mother many years later. Throughout her entire life, Anna showed a kindness that was eager to help wherever she could.

Though quiet by nature, Anna was outgoing toward others and had a lot of childhood girl friends. She went swimming and dancing with them, and in her young adult years, she liked to go to Lake Lansing Amusement Park or have a few beers with friends.

Anna was a serious young woman, finding work at Federal Mogul to support herself in the 1950s. Then she met a coworker, Paul Heller, and her independence was modified. The two fell in love, married on July 27, 1957 and instantly became a family of three. Paul had a son, Mark, from a previous marriage, who was just a baby when his mother was killed in an automobile accident. Together Anna and Paul had two more children: LuAnn was born in 1958 and Scott in 1962.

Anna was a very attentive mother and an active participant in her children’s lives. She was also influential in the lives of other children. When her own children were old enough to be in school, Anna took care of many, many others in her home in order to make ends meet. Even with a full house, Anna maintained a tidy home because, without fail, Friday was cleaning day.

Sunday was reserved for church. Anna grew up Lutheran, and though Paul rarely attended, Anna and the children faithfully worshiped and were very active at St. Johns Lutheran Church in St. Johns, Michigan. Skilled at sewing and crafts, Anna made Chrismons (religious Christmas ornaments) for her church and soon the craft activity spread to many other Lutheran churches in the area. She made her own dresses for various formal occasions and, for a time during the 1960s, she sewed and patched uniforms for the inmates at the St. Johns Jail. With friends from church, Anna went on various trips, and she was active in dance and an annual bowling tournament. She also belonged to a weight loss group called TOPS and was reigning “queen” for several years.

When their children were grown and had families of their own, Anna and Paul enjoyed traveling to Arizona to visit LuAnn and to Montana to visit Mark. They even took a trip to Las Vegas for the fun of it. As grandparents, they doted on their only grandchild, Cameron. He was the light of Anna’s life, and in her eyes he could do no wrong.

Over the years, Anna suffered from various heart ailments, and in 1998 she had a stroke that left her paralyzed on the right side of her body. Paul faithfully took care of her at home for about five years before moving to Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor in 2003. Once again, the two of them made the most of their time there, participating in the “prom” that had them decked out in their finest.

Paul died October 2, 2008 at Hazel I. Findlay and Anna died on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. After 82 years on earth, Anna Mae went to heaven to be with her Savior. She will be remembered by her beloved family as a diligent servant of Christ who joyfully put the needs of others first and delighted in the life God gave her.

Anna Mae (Witt) Heller is survived by her daughter LuAnn Heller of Tucson, AZ, her two sons, Scott Heller of St. Johns and Mark Heller of Stevensville, MT; grandson Cameron Heller of St. Johns; sister, Betty Metz and brothers, Carl (Dorothy) Witt, Clare Witt and Fred (Rosalyn) Witt; sister-in-law, Dorothy Witt and many nieces and nephews. Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Katherine Fisher and brother, Jay Witt.

Memorial services will be held 1:00 PM Thursday, August 12, 2010 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with Rev. George Brinley officiating. Memorial contributions may be made in Anna’s name to the Great Lakes Hospice 900 Cooper St., Jackson, MI 49202, or the Montana Companion Animal Network at Montana CAN, Inc. 458 Warp Dr., Corvallis, MT 59828.