Anna Gearhart

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 10:22 pm

Anna Mary (Sunstrom) Gearhart, 89 of Waukon, passed away into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon.

Memorial services will be held Monday, Dec. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Linwood Cemetery in Boone. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. With heartfelt love and appreciation for all the compassion, care, and spiritual guidance for Anna, memorials may be designated to Good Samaritan Society, Veterans Memorial Hospital, or St. John’s Lutheran Church, all in Waukon.

Anna Mary Gearhart was born July 16, 1933, in Boone, IA, the daughter of Charles and Opal (Smiley) Sunstrom. She attended Boone High School, graduating in 1951. Anna continued her education at Drake University in Des Moines, IA, with additional education through summer school at Iowa State University in Ames, IA, and Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO. Anna was a music major at Drake focusing on string bass; even though she was only 5 foot 2, she could tell that instrument what to do like a boss. Anna also played the piano very well and shared this gift at many different functions. She volunteered her playing of the piano at the Good Samaritan Home, giving much enjoyment to the residents, as well as to herself. Anna earned her teaching certificate through Western Colorado University and went on to teach elementary school in Lamar, CO, for a number of years. She continued with her love of music by playing in symphonies in Gunnison, CO, Des Moines, IA, and Lawrence, KS.

One of Anna’s wishes in life was that one of her children would become a musician, but realized rather early, that this wish might have to be passed on to her grandchildren, okay maybe her great-grandchildren, but either way she always made sure that there was music in life. While attending Drake University, Anna was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority and was privileged to be nominated for Miss Drake during her freshman year. While attending Drake, she met Dick Gearhart, who would later become her husband of 68 years.

In 1970, Anna along with her husband, moved themselves and their four children from Lamar, Colo., to Waukon, IA. Anna became the director of the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation based in Decorah, where she served for 25 years. She went on to proudly serve on the Board of Directors for NEICA for many years and was rewarded with much satisfaction with her service to the communities and people involved. She then went on to work for 13 years at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the physical therapy department, where she definitely got her 10,000 steps in, and she loved it. Anna enjoyed attending with her husband all sporting events and especially the Drake Relays. Watching her children and grandchildren during their high school and college years brought much excitement and joy along with many miles traveled to attend these events. Anna was a 60+ year member of P.E.O. and served her time with her sisters with much love and appreciation for all this organization stands for. Anna was a member of St. John’s Lutheran church in Waukon and was active in the hand bell and adult choirs.

Left to honor and cherish all the love, understanding, and grace she gave to her family are her daughters: Debra (Steve) Roe, Kim (Joe) Griffin, Mary (Brad) Campbell; and son Steve “Moose” (Shelly) Gearhart. Anna was also blessed with eight grandchildren: Ethan (Casey) Roe, Emily Roe (Dakota Black), Jeremy Griffin (Kristen Gervais), Kelly (Eric) Amundson, Morgan (John) Jobe, Mariah (Patrick) Lattanzio, Allie (Austin) Long, Seb Gearhart (Olivia Vander Leest); and seven great-grandchildren: Lillian and Samuel Roe, Natalie Griffin, Jack and Remi Amundson, Julian and Rowan Jobe; along with many nieces and nephews.

Anna was preceded in death by her husband Dick in 2020; her parents Charles and Opal Sunstrom; her twin brother Robert Sunstrom; a brother-in-law Jack Gearhart and a niece Michelle (Gearhart) Wells.