AnnaMae F. Powers
AnnaMae Francis Powers passed away in her home on Dec. 5, 2022, surrounded by her loving family, just short of her 98th birthday.
Funeral services were Friday, Dec. 9, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader, conducted by Rev. John Haugen. Visitation was before services at the church.
Interment was Saturday, Dec. 10, at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery (Kann), rural Guttenberg, conducted by Deacon Jim Pfaffly.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader assisted the family.
AnnaMae was born in Guttenberg on Dec. 13, 1924, to Gregor and Marie (Fassbinder) Junk. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Guttenberg, graduating in 1942. AnnaMae’s first full time job was breaking eggs at the Iowa Food Products plant in Guttenberg. About a year later, because of her accounting and shorthand abilities, she became the boss’s secretary.
She met the love of her life, Maurice James Powers, at Lakeside Ballroom. They married on Oct. 10, 1945, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg. While this German-Irish union was not always easy, as Maurice would say, they made it work. Along the way, they were blessed with eight children. For the first two years of their marriage, they made their home with Maurice’s parents, Ed and Coletta, on the Powers farm. In 1950 they purchased a 160-acre farm west of St. Olaf. They made their living by milking cows, raising pigs and chickens and later raising beef cattle. They added Powers Feed and Supply which they owned and operated from 1958 to 1990. Along with raising her children, she was the bookkeeper and secretary at the mill and oversaw the farm operations. The grass never grew under her feet.
They were members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elkader. AnnaMae was a member of the Ladies Guild, as well as Crafters. She was devoted to the Rosary. She joined the St. Olaf Legion Auxiliary in 1950 and was a lifetime member.
AnnaMae played a mean game of cards and wasn’t afraid to bid. Other leisure activities were walking, quilting, embroidering, reading, and doing crossword puzzles. She was an avid antique collector until they sold their homestead and moved to Elkader in September 1997.
While Maurice was still living, they loved dancing and traveling. In 1986, they retired and considered themselves fortunate to have avoided 28 winters by snow birding at Chimney Park in Mission, Texas. They both loved the climate, activities, their circle of friends, and the Catholic Church. AnnaMae continued spending her winters there until she was 95.
For AnnaMae family gatherings couldn’t happen enough. She was the glue that held the family together. She set an example to all by her hard work, dedication, and faith in God. AnnaMae was the life of the party and had the ability to make everyone she came in contact with love her due to her sharp wit and graciousness.
Survivors include her children, Jim Powers (Shila), Mary (Jim) Brink, Joyce (Dave) Caldwell, Jean (Bruce) Kuehl, Janice (Dan) Niehaus, Jayne (David) Logsdon, Maureen (Dale) Butikofer; 23 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her son, Gary (Sept. 28, 1948); her husband, Maurice (Jan. 16, 2002); grandson, Brady Powers; son-in-law, Bill Thurn; brothers, Veryl, Gene and Greg, and sister, Elaine.
