Anna Wells

Anna Catherine Wells, the second of four daughters of Arthur James and Mary Josephine (Walsh) Oâ€™Meara, was born on the family farm, two miles south of Nemaha, Iowa, on July 30, 1918. Weighing only four pounds, 12 ounces at birth, she was not expected to survive, and was dipped in the warm and cold water baths, and fed with a medicine dropper. By the age of three months, she weighed 10 pounds. From that time, she continued to thrive, and went on to live most of her 94 years in excellent health. She was christened at Sacred Heart Church in Early on September 8, 1918. As a child, she was fond of her dolls, insisting on taking them to dinner with her. When Anna was just 16, her mother died from chronic kidney disease. After her graduation from St. Columbkille High School, Varina, in 1936, she and her older sister Alice moved to Chicago to live with their grandmother, Annie Ford Walsh, and Ellen Walsh, an aunt. Her first job was wrapping gifts at Marshall Fieldâ€™s Department Store, and later she operated a check sorting machine for the Continental Bank of Chicago. Anna married Deland A. Wells of Jolley, Iowa, at Our Lady of Peace Church in Chicago on June 23, 1942. Six daughters and one son were born to their union. Their first home was in Varina, and Deland farmed in Dover Township and did custom trucking. They later lived and farmed near Laurens until 1950 when they moved to the Wood farm north of Fonda. In 1965, they bought farmland near Varina, which they affectionately called their â€œLittle Ponderosaâ€. In 1979, they moved to Pocahontas. Anna was a devoted wife and mother who delighted in making her home a warm and inviting place. She was an excellent cook, known for her homemade cakes, pies, cookies and desserts. She canned fruits, vegetables, and jams. She sewed clothing and did embroidery. At harvest and other busy times on the farm, she prepared large meals for working men in addition to her family, and delivered coffee and dessert to the field for breaks. Nurturing her children, and later her grandchildren, was a highlight of her life. An avid reader, she kept an ample supply of reading material and all kinds of toys in the home. She concerned herself with her childrenâ€™s education and encouraged them in many extra-curricular activities including band, piano, choir, 4-H, cheerleading, speech contest, plays, swimming, basketball, track, and football. She was particularly proud that all of them graduating from college. Anna and her husband made time for their marriage, including dancing to the big band music, playing bridge, and attending theatre productions, while maintaining many friendships and family relationships. Time was made for couplesâ€™ get-aways, trips with friends, cruises, a trip to Europe, as well as family vacations, reunions, and the annual family vacation at Lake Okoboji. In retirement, they enjoyed winters in Mesa, Arizona, and traveling throughout the United States and Canada in their fifth-wheel camper. Anna continued to take part in the family week at Lake Okoboji through the summer 2012. She was a faithful member of the Catholic Church: St. Columbkilleâ€™s in Varina and later Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church, Pocahontas. She was active in Catholic Daughters of America, and served briefly as president of the Varina chapter. She is remembered as a warm, loving, kind-hearted, generous person with humility, a sense of humor and devotion to the Lord. Following Delandâ€™s death in 2001, she maintained her home until 2006 when she became a resident of Arlington Place in Pocahontas. In 2008, she moved to the Fonda Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 59 years, Deland Wells; son, Thomas Wells; grandson, Jeremy Flett; sisters: Alice Martin, Agnes Oâ€™Meara and Irene Hauge. Survivors include children: Mary Jo Flett, Rochester, MI; Deanna Veitia. Lake Arrowhead, CA; Maureen and Edmond Garrett, Douglasville, GA; Marsha and Michel Maupoux, Vancouver, WA; Marian Wells, Redland, CA; Lori Jensen-Wells (daughter-in-law), Fonda; Carol and Ken Larsen, Cedar Rapids; grandchildren: Tresa (James) Williamson; Marc, Paul and Nicholas Maupoux; Kara (Andy) Knupp; Grant and Parker Wells; Sarah (Stephen) Barry; Cynthia McLaughlin; Katie Lane; Nicole (Jon) Fleton; Emily, Mikayla and Rachel Larsen; great-grandchildren: Emma Williamson, Jenna, Joey and Caleb McLaughlin, Carter and Nolan Knupp, Hailey and Sawyer Felton; sister-in-law Katherine Siela; plus numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Anna Wells

July 30, 1918 - April 17, 2013