Obituary of Anne Theise

THEISE – Anne Frances (Olson) was born August 7th, 1927 in Ottawa, Ontario, and passed away in the early evening on August 30th. ,2010 at the CypressRegionalHospital in Swift Current. Her daughter, Judy and her son, Brian were with her when she drew her last breath. Although it was heartbreaking to let her go, we knew she was once again reunited with our Dad after 20 years apart. She is survived by her son Ron (Judy) of Jenner, AB; son Terry (Carol) of Ponteix, SK; daughter Judy (Glenda) of Swift Current, SK; son Brian of Success, SK; son Tom of Success, SK; and son Bruce (Ev) of Swift Current, SK. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Robin, Laurel-Lee, Everett, Kevin, Anna, Nichole, Andrew, Craig, Karen, Lance, Wade, April, Amy, Jenna, Dakota, Janelle, Chris, Lane, Erin, Brenda and Eric as well as 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her brothers Clayton Olson of Ottawa, Dan (Catherine) Hutchingame of Ottawa and David (Roseanne) Hutchingame of Kanata, Ontario, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Reinhard in January 1990; sons Bob in 2001 and Rick in July 2010; a daughter Carol at 3 months of age in Ottawa; 2 grandsons, Adam in 1987 and Scott in 1990; her parents Mildred and Brian Hutchingame of Ottawa; her sister and brother-in-law Bev ( Jean Louis (John) ) Madran of Whitehorse, Yukon; her father and mother-in-law, Olga and Adolph Theise of Medicine Hat. Our Mom grew up and attended school in Ottawa. She went to work at an early age in the War Records Department at Canadian National Defence. This proved to be quite beneficial to her after she met her future husband Reinhard, an Air Force pilot who was training at Uplands Air Force Base just outside of Ottawa. She met our Dad at a club in Hull, Quebec. After their first date, she “checked” his file at the War Records Department where she worked. She decided he was a “keeper’ and they were married on February 1, 1945 in Ottawa. They lived in Ottawa until 1952. During those 7 years, Dad was a milkman and Mom was busy taking care of one child after the next. Mom had given birth to 5 children in those 7 years. Her sons Ron, Terry, Bob and Rick, and her daughter Carol. She would always tell the story of a neighbour lady who once asked who was the father of her kids. She simply replied “The Milkman.” In 1952 our Dad got a call from his father to come back to Saskatchewan and help farm. It was hard for our Mom to leave her family and the city where she had grown up. She often said she was sure she had cried for a year after moving to the family farm at Success. From 1952 to 1963, 4 more children arrived on the scene: Judy, Brian, Tom and Bruce. Mom was a very busy person taking care of her 7 sons and 1 daughter. She was continually baking, cooking, washing clothes, sewing and cleaning house. She somehow found time to take care of a large garden as well. We are not sure how she managed to do all of this. We do know that she went without a lot of things she could have used but felt we needed more. Thank you Mom. In 1970, Mom suffered a brain aneurysm. She spent many weeks at the University hospital in Saskatoon recovering and many more weeks at the Palliser Care Centre in Swift Current in rehabilitation. The only side effects from her operation were the loss of her sense of smell and an inability to taste certain things. This would result in some slightly over spiced meals at times! As we grew up and moved away, Mom found more time for socializing and was able to enjoy a more relaxed style of life. She enjoyed curling, dancing, travelling, being a member of the local weight watchers club and local bible study club. She was also an Eagles Club member for 40 years and held every chair possible , some twice or more with the local Eagles Ladies Auxiliary. In recent years she was involved with the Elks and Royal purple in Swift Current. Mom finally got her new house on the farm in 1981. This made life a lot easier and she loved the space. She loved to play shuffleboard in her new downstairs games room. More than a few people fell victim to her deadly accuracy. In 1987 Dad & Mom purchased a cabin at SuffernLake, north of Macklin, SK. They were able to enjoy three years together there until Dad passed away suddenly in 1990. After that she continued to spend as much time as possible at the lake. Mom also travelled a lot after our Dad passed away. She made numerous trips to Whitehorse to visit her sister Bev and take in the annual Rendezvous Days festivities. Mom and Bev would dress in period costumes from the gold rush days and head to downtown Whitehorse to enjoy all of the activities of Rendezvous. She always marvelled at how people would remember her every year and greet her by name as she and her sister strolled downtown Whitehorse. She took a Caribbean Cruise, which she very much enjoyed and also travelled to Loretto, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez with her sister Bev to visit Bev’s daughter who had a winter home there. She continued to travel to Victoria BC to visit Bob and his family until Bob passed away in 2001. She made many trips back to Ottawa to visit her brothers as well. Mom also enjoyed several bus tours to the United States. She particularly liked Branson, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee. One of her favourite entertainers was Daniel O’Donnell who she saw on more than one occasion in Branson. During her last hospital stay, Judy brought Mom’s disc player to her hospital room where we would play her favourite Daniel O’Donnell songs. As ill as she was, she would always respond to the song “Moonlight and Roses”, sometimes humming along, and if she was able, she would softly sing a verse. Now Mom has taken her last and longest journey and has reached her final destination. She is finally “Home”. She would always say to us kids when we were misbehaving “Wait till your father gets home!” Now we are sure she is finally home with our father. Mom was so proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild. We will all miss her deeply, but we know she is now in a place where there is no pain or suffering. So, Mom, we say to you, “Most of all the other beautiful things in life come in twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends, but we only have one mother in the whole world.’ Your arms were always open when we needed a hug. Your heart understood when we needed a friend. Your gentle eyes were stern when we needed a lesson. Your strength and love have guided us and given us wings to fly. We are going to play “Moonlight and Roses” one last time for you and quietly imagine you and Dad dancing together once again. A Memorial Service was held on Friday, August 30th. 2010 at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Swift Current with Rev. Jonathan Hoskins officiating. Pallbearers were her Grandsons: Robin Theise, Everett Theise, Lance Anderson, Kevin Theise, Chris Theise and Lane Theise. The ushers were Barry Otterson and Blair Croft. Long time close friend, Fran Strain read the eulogy as well as a personal tribute to Mom. Ev Theise sang When I Get Where I’m Going. Organist was Gloria Robinson. The local Royal Purple Ladies formed an Honour Guard. Parkside Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations for Anne can be made to the Elk’s and Royal Purple Fund for Children or the Success Community Hall Board.