11/18/2014
Anna M. (Arnts) Whitlatch, 79, of Marion, died peacefully on Nov. 18, 2014, at Mercy Hospital of Iowa City Hospice Unit. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion at a later date, with Pastor Linda Livingston. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Marion.
She is survived by her former husband, Aryl (Joyce) Whitlatch; six children, Tom (Julie) Whitlatch, Kathy (Mike) Wyatt, Angela (Larry) Eberly, Chris Whitlatch, Tony (Sandi Ahomana) Whitlatch, and Barbara (James) Vaughan; six grandchildren, Tina (John) Grace, Casey Waddell, Jessica Medlin, Jared Jacobson, Justin Jacobson, and Amber Padovano; and six great-grandchildren.
Anna was born Sept. 2, 1935, in Knoxville, Iowa, to Tryntje “Tina” and William Arnts. At the age of 20, she married Aryl Whitlatch. They spent a year in Germany where she gave birth to their first of six children.
Anna was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion for several years. Her first job in life was as a car hop on roller skates at A& W Root Beer in Knoxville, Iowa.
She also worked as a telephone operator, waitress, banker, and cook in nursing homes in Marion in her last years of working prior to a stroke in her early 60s. She enjoyed square dancing in her 20s and 30s and took up line dancing with her daughters in her 50s.
Anna never met a stranger and touched the hearts and lives of so many people in her lifetime.
She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.