Thiesen, Anna Kroeker (1919-2003)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2003 Nov 8 p. 2

Birth date: 1919 Aug 2

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Dec 8 p. 8

text of obituary:

Anna Thiesen, 84, of Hesston, Kan., died Nov. 6, 2003, at Schowalter Villa. She was born Aug. 2, 1919, to John Jacob Kroeker and Katherine (Janzen) Kroeker in Spat, Crimea, Russia.

Due to the Russian Revolution, the family fled when she was 3 months old, settling in Germany for six years. They moved to Chicago in 1926, then to Newton, Kan., in 1936. She graduated from Newton High School in 1938 and became a U.S. citizen in 1940. On May 23, 1946, she married Walter Thiesen.

She was a bookkeeper and insurance clerk, working for several insurance companies in Newton and Wichita and 25 years for an Oldsmobile-Cadillac dealership. In the 1950s she was involved in an organization for women in business, Credit Women's Breakfast Club, and was state president in 1955-56. She was a notary public for many years. In the mid-1970s, she returned to insurance-related work for Doctors Park medical office. She retired in 1983.

All through her working years and into retirement, she did independent work in bookkeeping for small businesses and in tax preparation. In retirement she was treasurer of the Bethel College Women's Association, working on fund-raising projects for the college.

She joined First Mennonite Church of Newton on May 16, 1937. She taught Sunday school for about 50 years and loved music, singing in the church choir and community choral groups for many years. She enjoyed attending classical music concerts. Her interests included quilts, collecting teacups and reading. A memorable vacation was to Europe in 1978, meeting uncles, aunts and cousins, some of whom she hadn't seen for 50 years.

Survivors include her husband, Walter; a son, John and his wife, Barbara, of Newton; a brother, Jake Kroeker of Wichita; and a grandson, Andrew Thiesen.

Services were held at First Mennonite Church. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.