04/14/2021
Anna Marie Benscoter was born on March 12, 1944 in Knoxville, Iowa. She was the youngest of three daughters that were born to Edgar and Anna Mae (Burkhart) Benscoter. Anna began her education at the Harvey elementary school in Harvey, Iowa.
She later graduated from Knoxville High School with the class of 1962. Shortly after her graduation, she was united in marriage with Donald Lee Vance on August 5, 1964, in Unionville, Missouri. To this union, three children were born: Donald Jr., David, and Angela. They were happily married for 30 years until Donald’s untimely death on October 3, 1992, at the age of 50.
Anna worked at Rolscreen in Pella, Iowa, and later for 11 years at Griffin Nursing Center in Knoxville. She was later reacquainted with her friend William Dean Visser. They had known each other and dated for a short time as young adults. Anna and Bill were united in marriage on March 12, 2000, on Anna’s 56th birthday.
Bill passed away on November 18, 2015, at the age of 73. Anna remained active in her children’s life. They remember her love of the outdoors, decorating and landscaping her yard, collecting wind chimes, and sitting outside on her porch appreciating her time with family and friends.
Anna was an avid reader and always enjoyed a good book. She especially loved the kitchen, baking her famous yeast-raised doughnuts and cream puffs and preparing Sunday meals for her family and her grandson, Nathan. They cherished this special time together.
Anna was diagnosed with cancer in February of 2021 and she battled it until she could no longer. She passed away on April 14, 2021, at her home, surrounded by her family, just a month after her 77th birthday.
She is survived by her three children; one grandson, and nine great-grandchildren.
They are:
Donald Vance, Jr. and his wife, Angie (Weldon) of Knoxville, Iowa
Holly and Mike Brosam
Heidi French and Adam Pettyjohn
Dennis and Cheyanna Weldon
David Vance of Knoxville, Iowa
Angela and Michael Bosak of Knoxville, Iowa
Nathan Bosak
Anna also leaves her sister, Verda Kruse of Bloomfield, IA; a step-son, John, and Debbie Visser of Lemon Grove, CA.
Anna was preceded in death by her two husbands, Donald Vance and William Visser; her 
parents, and her sister, Leona Preston; and her brother-in-law, Charles (Dick) Kruse. Anna was a longtime member of the Harvey Assembly of God Church and recently attended the New Journey Church in Knoxville.
FUNERAL SERVICES
Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.
Williams Funeral Home, Knoxville, Iowa
MEMORIALS
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be made to the family.