MaryAnna Anschutz, 91, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, October 19, 2019, at the Redbud Village Court in Plainville, Kansas.
MaryAnna, born on April 09, 1928, was the daughter of Henry and Leona (Boucek) Ward. She grew up in Minneapolis Kansas and graduated from Minneapolis High School. She, then, earned a Bachelor Degree in Education at the University of Kansas. She taught elementary education with USD 407 in Russell, Kansas for many years, but she also taught in Concordia, Minneapolis and Dorrance, Kansas. Her professional development included a Master’s Degree in Education at Ft. Hays State University. She actively promoted Kansas Special Education as a long-time member a Statewide Committees. Her community involvement included longtime memberships at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas; the First Ladies of Sunflower Bank; and Chapter of Kansas University Alumni. As a student at KU, she was member of the Women’s Rifle Team that placed at a United States National Rifle competition. She married Willis Dean Anschutz and they were blessed with a daughter Lucy Anschutz Miller, who died suddenly on January 7th 2007. Mary Anna’s interests included amateur shooting competitions, gun collection and mineral collection, and player of the piano and trombone. Mary Anna also traveled worldwide with numerous trips to Europe, South Africa, Alaska and Hawaii. She remained an avid fan of University of Kansas sports. But, her biggest delight was time with her grandchildren Amanda Miller and Alex Miller
Surviving family include her grandchildren Amanda and Alexander Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Henry Ward and daughter Lucy Anschutz on January 07, 2007. A celebration of MaryAnna’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, October 25, 2019, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at the Dorrance City Cemetery. Open visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Thursday, October 24, 2019, at the mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Red Bud Village of Plainville, Kansas, and can be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.