Obituary of Anne Lansberry

LANSBERRY – ANNE It is with sadness and the utmost respect that we share the death of Anne Lansberry on October 9, 2017 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Anne demonstrated exceptional grit and determination throughout her life, grounded in her unwavering faith in God. She was born in Herbert, Saskatchewan on March 10, 1925, the third of five children of Isaac and Helena (Peters) Neufeld (along with siblings Jacob (“Chuck”), Victoria, Leona and Margaret). Following the death of her mother when she was six years old, her father raised their five children with the help of Helena’s father (Grandpa Peters) and his sisters. Anne attended school in Beechy and Herbert and later worked in Herbert where her father had a grocery store. Her father remarried and moved to Clearbrook, British Columbia, adding siblings Luella and Jim Arens and Joan and Gary Neufeld to their family. In 1946 Anne married Elmer Cornelson, a farmer and grain buyer in Herbert and they had two children, Dennis and Nola. The family made frequent trips to Vancouver, working there for a winter and subsequently to visit her parents and siblings. Following Elmer’s death in 1957, Anne and her children spent time in Poughkeepsie, New York with Leona and Otto Gutwin and family. Anne returned to her home in Herbert and for the next nine years independently raised her two children while completing her education, working in the local doctors office and credit union, and guiding her children through their education. In 1965 she married Harry Lansberry and they worked tirelessly together and later with Wayne and Anna Penner and Don and Ken Nelson to build their farming and cattle operation northeast of Herbert until Harry’s death 34 years later. Following Harry’s death in 1999, Anne carried on their legacy of being good stewards of the land in collaboration with the Nelsons, the Southland Hutterite Colony and Ryan And Kelly Schroeder. She continued to live in her home in Herbert with the active support of her children until shortly before her death. During this time she frequently spent time with Nola, Daryl, Tara and Alison and great grandchildren (Emma, Payton, Karson, Presley and Jaxson) in Saskatoon as a valued contributor to their family life. She used technology to stay in touch with her grandson Taylor between his annual visits as his architectural career took him to many places in the world, and with friends and family through emails, texts, FaceBook and FaceTime. Harry and Anne were avid curlers and gardeners, splitting their time between the house on the farm and house in town until the farm house was destroyed by fire. They were both active in the community and the local Lions Club. Anne was an active member of the United Church of Canada, serving on the Board of the Herbert United Church, on the executive of the UCW, and as leader of the Explorer Girls club, regularly attending worship and bible study at the Lutheran Church following the closure of the United Church. Anne was an accomplished homemaker and farmer, mastering tasks as diverse as sewing, knitting, baking, canning, cooking, gardening, calf birthing, ladder construction, building maintenance, grain hauling, parts procuring and bookkeeping. She enjoyed staying in touch with her extended family and was always especially interested in visits from all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren and learning of their achievements. She was an avid student of things that mattered, always seeking advice from those she respected before making decisions. She supported her family with the same disciplined approach, inspiring them to ever greater levels of achievement. Her greatest strength was her determination, attention to detail and insistence on perfection in everything she did, providing structure to her life and that of those around her. She was an enduring force in her family and her community and she will be greatly missed. She is survived by siblings Victoria Hiebert, Leona Gutwin, Margaret (Gerald) Ballard, and Joan (Ron) Sestrap, children Dennis (Cheryl) Cornelson, Nola (Daryl) Woods, step-children Lawrence (Arlene) Lansberry, Joanne Dales (Tim Peake) and Dale (Brenda) Lansberry, grandchildren Tara Woods, Alison (Kirby) Routledge, Taylor Cornelson, Lee and Brett (Sharol) Lansberry, Jackie (Brent) Watson, Kelly (Clinton) Wiebe, Robbie Dales, Travis (Carla), Chauncey, and Tye Lansberry, 15 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by siblings Jacob (Donna) Neufeld, Gary (Tracy) Neufeld, Jim and Geri Arens, Luella and Dan Kagle and sister and brother in laws Dorothy (Jacob) Neufeld, Alvin (Victoria) Hiebert, Otto (Leona) Gutwin, Edith and Ray Francis, Helen and Mel Toews, Doris and Les Lansberry, Clara and Frank Klippenstein and Vic (Mary) Cornelson. The family would like to thank Dr Kassett, Dr Akinfiresoye, Dr Ghori, Dr Fehr and Dr Lee as well as Herbert Home Care, the staff at the Cypress Regional Hospital and Clover House and first responders and EMS attendants for their unwavering willingness to intervene in sustaining the quality and duration of Anne’s life. There will be a memorial service at 2:00 PM on Monday, October 23, 2017 at St Pauls Lutheran Church in Herbert Saskatchewan. Pastor Linda Hall will officiate. In memory of Anne, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or St Pauls Lutheran Church. A private family interment will occur at a later date. For further information or to sign the family book of condolence, visit www.parksidefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in care of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home – Ryan Cappelle.