BESSEMER, Mich. - Anna Elias, 92, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday Oct. 12, 2016, surrounded by the love of her family.
Anna was born on the Fourth of July, 1924, in Ashland, Wis., daughter of the late Jacob and Albertina Tannheimer. Anna attended Bessemer schools and graduated with the class of 1942.
On July 12, 1943, she was united in marriage to Stanley J. Elias at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Mo. Stanley preceded her in death on Feb. 11, 2009.
Anna was also preceded in death by three brothers, Louis, Lawrence and Joseph; two sisters, Mary Jacobson and Ceil Eisenbach; three sisters in infancy, and a daughter-in-law, Elaine (Muhonen) Elias.
Anna was a lifelong member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer. All 11 of her children attended St. Sebastian School through the eighth grade. One of her greatest wishes was to see all of her children graduate from high school. They all did, and from the same place she did, A.D. Johnston.
Anna was a stay-at-home mom for most of her life, tending to her children and grandchildren. She was also employed by Big Powderhorn Mountain Lodging for several years, a job she loved.
She was an amazing mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and friend. She devoted her life to her family and her church. She was a kind, patient and compassionate woman who always saw the good in people. Anna loved to read, take long walks, attend church and her Bible study group. Of course, we can't forget her love of the Green Bay Packers.
She is survived by her 11 children, Mary Carol (Jim) Bergman, of Plainfield, Wis., Gary (Dorothea) Elias, of La Salle, Colo., Betsy (Bill) Velin, of Rosemount, Minn., Chris (Bill) McCormick, of Denver, Colo., Trudie (Luke) Pollack, of Wausau, Wis., Jeff (Cheryl) Elias, of Bessemer, Tom Elias, of Lennox, S.D., Jayne Suvanto, of Bessemer, Jacquie (Chad) Carter, of Parker, Colo., Angel (Steve) Rotter, of South Elgin, Ill, and Steven (Dana) Elias, of Green Bay, Wis; 23 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; her brother, Fran (Dorothy) Tannheimer, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Gogebic Medical Care Facility for their love and care of our mother during her stay there. She always had a ready smile each day for her nurses and caregivers.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
A celebration of Anna's life will take place at noon on Saturday, Nov. 5, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer. Father Dominic Agyapong will be the celebrant. The family will receive relatives and friends at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the Ore House in Ramsay. Inurnment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer.
Anyone wishing to make a donation in Anna's memory can do so by sending contributions to the Gogebic Medical Care Facility Garden, 402 North St., Wakefield, MI 49968.
Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home of Bessemer is assisting the family with arrangements. To send on line condolences, visit us at rangefuneralservices.com.