Funeral services for Anna Louise (Butler) Rankin, 80, of Lacona will be Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Lacona Christian Church. Interment will be at the Cochran Cemetery near Lacona. Family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Lacona.
Memorials may be made to the Lacona Christian Church or to the Lacona Fire Department. Anna Louise was born November 24, 1938 in Lacona, Iowa to Kenneth and Flossie (Williams) Butler. She grew up in Lacona and graduated from Lacona High School in 1957.
On May 31, 1957 she married Arlan Rankin. They were blessed with five children in less than six years; Marcie, Laura, Gayle, Kyle, and Keri. Annie loved being a mom and raising her family.
She was an excellent cook and enjoyed baking breads and pies to give to family and friends. Annie always had patience and let the kids cook with her. Sunday dinners were a weekly gathering for many years, often times feeding over 25 family members.
She passed along her knowledge of sewing, crocheting, and knitting to her daughters and granddaughters as well. She sewed the neatest clothes, made her girls’ wedding dresses, quilted, knitted many blankets and sweaters, and knitted over 200 Christmas stockings that she gave away to loved ones. She also enjoyed refinishing antique furniture and restoring woodwork in her home and her children’s homes.
Annie loved puzzles and especially liked working Sudoku puzzles. She had a deep faith and attended the Lacona Christian Church where she was the pianist for over 43 years. Annie had a great love for family and looked forward to family reunions and music at the Butler Pond.
ISU men’s basketball parties became a family time also, always to include tons of homemade favorites, love and laughter. Everyone remembers those great times and wonderful meals. Love, kindness, and caring are three words that everyone will think of when they think of Annie.
She loved her family so softly and tenderly, yet she was full of strength and handled her illness with grace. Annie passed away February 8, 2019 at her home surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her parents: Kenneth and Flossie Butler; her husband, Arlan; granddaughter, Allison Kimzey, and brothers: Wendell Butler, Walter Butler, Howard Butler, and Doyle Butler.
She will be greatly missed by her children: Marcie (Jim) Kimzey, Laura (Mike) Mason, Gayle (Kevin) Konrad, Kyle (DeDe) Rankin, and Keri (Chuck) Cleveland; 18 grandchildren:Ryan, Travis, Emily, Brett, Mallory, Brody, Haley, Tiffany, Derek, Alicia, Brock, Katie, Mack, Casey, Dylan, KJ, Molly, and Megan; and 29 great grandchildren with three more expected shortly and a great great grandchild also arriving soon. Along with surviving are sisters: Wanda Johnson and Wyona Shupe; and many relatives and friends. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Anna Louise Rankin please visit our Sympathy Store.
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