Anna Motz

Someone who was content in all things, Anna Motz lived a simple life fully enriched by things that truly mattered – a deep love shared with her husband, a tender touch that shaped the next generation, and a spirit that genuinely cared for others more than herself. More beautiful than even the most breathtaking bouquet of garden flowers, Ann enjoyed a diverse pallet of interests throughout her life, but nothing was better than the time she spent with the family who was her greatest treasure. Those who knew Ann knew that she rarely missed a dance at the ZCBJ Lodge in Bannister and that anything polka was music to her ears. A true gift to the world around her, Ann will be deeply missed by many.

As WWI raged on overseas during the year 1916, President Woodrow Wilson vowed that “America was too proud to fight,” but that proclamation would prove to be short-lived as our nation entered the war just one year later. This was a year for great celebration in the family of Stephan and Anna (Skrha) Michalek since it was on April 2nd of 1916 that they welcomed their daughter, Anna, into their hearts and home. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Anna was one of four children born to her parents who were Slovak immigrants . Her father provided for the needs of the family delivering milk via horse and wagon, but he had dreams of one day having his own farm. When Ann was 16 her family moved to a farm on Colony Road just north of St. Johns. These were the days when farm work was done predominantly by horses and chores were often a family affair. This was the case in the Michalek family as the children worked hard hoeing in the peppermint and crop fields.

Life would never be the same for Ann after she met a particular young man while attending a neighbor’s wedding one fateful day. His name was Joseph Motz and although a courtship started between them, Ann soon moved back to Chicago where she worked as a nanny. They exchanged countless letters during this time, forever intertwining their hearts together. On one occasion, Joe talked Ann into going up into a single engine plane and with a desire to impress her beau, she obliged. That would prove to be the last time Ann ever got on a plane, however!

Deeply in love, Ann returned to Michigan to marry her sweetheart on July 18, 1936. The newlyweds settled in Flint where Joe was able to find work at the Buick plant. It was in Flint that they welcomed their first daughter, Irene. Around the same time as our nation became involved in WWII, Joe and Ann moved to a small farm on Parks Road in St. Johns, and he transferred to the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing. Anna embraced the role of a farmer’s wife, taking on a large garden and canning much of her yield. She was known to drive the Allis Chalmers tractor to visit friends, even strapping Irene to the top of a tool box in order to take her baby with her at times!

With the birth of their daughter, Gladys, the Motz family was complete. County grade school activities kept the family busy, but Ann still managed to keep a clean home. She raised chickens and sold eggs for extra money, and was also very involved in the Extension. Beef soup graced their table every Sunday, and their home was always filled with a fresh bouquet of flowers from their garden all summer long. The flowers in Ann’s garden were so plentiful that whenever they needed flowers for an event, she always had more than enough to share. Dinners and dances at the ZCBJ Lodge in Bannister were also of great importance to Ann, and she never missed her daily soap opera on the radio each weekday.

Once their children were grown, Ann continued to keep busy. Nothing was better than being a grandmother in Ann’s book, and she even traveled to Portland, Oregon, to be a part of her grandson’s birth. She continued to drive her 1950 Oldsmobile to either Lansing or Owosso for shopping trips as needed. Polka dances and dinners remained a big part of her life and at times, Ann and Joe traveled to different states for these events, too. Joe became a DJ for the local polka station and from that point forward, Ann became a longtime listener.

After Joe retired, the pair moved to Florida and although she was initially distraught that she seemed to be the youngest person down there, she grew to love it there and they spent three months in Zephyrhills each winter. They also did some other traveling including a memorable trip to the Lawrence Welk Resort in Branson, Missouri, and both trips and evenings spent at dances with good friends, Frank and Helen Gazda. Since Joe was home for lunch every day after he retired, Ann made him do the dishes after the meal before heading over to Dershey’s Café to play cards.

Although Ann was deeply saddened with Joe’s death in 2004, she continued to embrace the days she was given. She wanted to stay on the farm as she was comfortable there, and she busied herself working in the garden, doing housework, visiting with friends on the phone, and spending time with her neighbor, John Skapik. Of course it came as no surprise that she never missed the monthly dances at the ZCBJ Lodge.

Anna Motz was a delightful woman who made life so much fun for those around her. She was quiet, reserved, and usually serious by nature, but nothing could bring a smile to her face more than friends and children. Ann was devoted to the family she treasured and was a true helpmeet to her husband. As her friends and family now say goodbye, they will be forever grateful for having been blessed with such an extraordinary woman in their lives. Ann will be dearly missed and warmly remembered.

Anna Motz died on November 22, 2010 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor. Ann’s family includes her daughters, Irene Armbrustmacher of St. Johns and Gladys (Bruce) Hall of Portland, OR; five grandchildren, Joan Armbrustmacher and Julie Lewis of St. Johns, Debra Goodman of Portland, MI, Elizabeth (David) Liebert of Portland, OR, and Major Stephan (Dana) Hall of West Point, NY; ten great-grandchildren, Alan, Clara, Josiah and Erik Leibert, Katie Beth Hall, Joshua and Jeremy Cooper, Zachary, Adam and Nicholas Goodman, one sister, Ludmila “Mickey” Besko of Ovid, MI; as well as many nieces and nephews. Ann was preceded by her parents, Stephan and Anna Michalek, brother, Stephan Michalek and sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Peace. Funeral Services will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 28, 2010 at Osgood Funeral Home, with Tom Bradley officiating, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will received friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to Sparrow Clinton Hospital, W.O.E.S. (Ovid-Elsie High School), Meals on Wheels –Clinton County, or the ZCBJ Lodge, Bannister.