Anna M, Boxrucker, 96, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Nekoosa Court Assisted Living.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at St. Katherine’s Church in Owen, on October 19, 2024. Her funeral will be at 12 p.m. at the church. Honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren Kim, Nikki, Kevin, Ellen; great-grandchildren Tara, Ethan, Colbin, Beth, Nolan, Marshall, Avery, Ayla, Harper; great-great grandchild Viviana.
Anna was born to Arnold and Alma (Olson) Nelson near Medford. She went to elementary school at the one-room Little White Schoolhouse in Little Black. She graduated from Medford High School. When she was a teenager, her mother died. Her sister Jane and Anna took care of their three brothers and a disabled sister. After Anna married the love of her life, Pete, on July 30, 1946, they took in her sister Gracie. Gracie went to school in Eau Claire during the week and came home on the weekends. She was unable to walk, so Pete taught her to walk on her hands and to open doors. Anna and Pete loved life. They had many parties at their home and enjoyed dressing up for Halloween. Christmas was a favorite holiday as Pete had been wounded on Christmas Day and was MIA during WWII. They celebrated his life and the birth of Jesus. The coffee pot was always on at their house. Anyone who came to visit got something to eat, cookies-cheese-sausage-crackers, no matter what time of the day or night. For many years vacations were spent at the Lake of the Pines. Anna and Pete with their family in one cabin and best friends and neighbors, Melvin and Dorothy Jarchow, and their family in the cabin next door. Anna worked many years at the Master Package Corporation in Owen. After Pete had a stroke, Anna retired early to take care of him at home. She said she was able to fulfill her dream of being a nurse. \Anna lived in her own home until the last two years of her life, then she moved to assisted living. Granddaughter Nikki worked there and the two of them shared many special moments. Staff there called Anna “Grandma” too.
Anna and Pete had two children, Jerry (Carol) and Gracie; four grandchildren Kim (Victor) Werlein, Nikki (Jeremiah) Montag, Kevin, Ellen (Jeff) Petersen; nine great-grandchildren Tara (Brian) Busse, Ethan (Cosvy), Colbin (Marisa), Beth, Nolan, Marshall, Avery, Ayla, and Harper; and one great-great grandchild Viviana. All of them were lovingly spoiled.
Anna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters, Jane Meschefske and Grace Nelson, and two brothers Roger (Sonny) and Sam.
Anna is survived by her children, all levels of grandchildren, brother Dale Nelson and many nieces and nephews.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.
