Anna Bergenthal

Anna Bergenthal 1928 ~ 2012 Anna's husband Neil and daughter-in-law Karin share some memories of her life. From Neil: ""Our good times began in late 1951 when Ann met Neil at a church USO in St. Louis. They had a handful of dates before Neil went off to OCS at Fort Benning. They were married at the Fort on July 26, 1952. After a short honeymoon while Neil went through jump school, they went to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where, on the first night, they slept on a dining room table because the quarters were less than clean. Neil shipped off to Korea in January of 1953, and Ann returned to St. Louis and her prior position as a legal secretary. Upon his return, they headed for the University of Miami, where Neil graduated in January 1955 and immediately hired on with Ralston Purina. Thus began another phase of a nearly 60-year odyssey, which took them to nine states, four of them twice, with three sons along the way."" From Karin: ""Tell everyone that I love them,"" Anna Mae Stippec Bergenthal told her husband Neil driving her to the hospital the morning of April 12, 2012. No one could be surprised she thought of others in her last moments. Raising three sons (Derr, Paul, Glen), embracing their spouses (Karin and Debbie), keeping up with four grandsons (Erik, Kyle, Luke and Jake) and brother Rudy and his wife Barbara as well as numerous relatives (both hers and Neil's) in St. Louis and Chicago; these relationships only formed the innermost ripple of her unconditionally loving nature. Ann formed lasting friendships across the country, from New York to Indiana, Missouri to Colorado, and Florida to Georgia. People were drawn to her joie de vivre. She enjoyed her life and was up for almost anything: going to the latest movie with Neil or watching a cult film DVD with her grandchildren; sharing jokes (even the off-color ones) on the golf course; bargain-hunting at Macy's; playing bridge (even when the deals were bad -- most recently with the Four Anns); fine dining with gourmet groups or four-for-two-bucks Taco Bell when the Rockies scored seven; enthusiastically watching televised s games or volunteer marshaling a golf tournament; exercising at the Lone Tree Recreation Center or hiking in the mountains; and traveling with family and friends throughout the world or hosting them at her home. Ann remembered her years growing up in St. Louis fondly: time spent on Uncle Frank and Aunt Annie's farm, her cousins, and her indomitable mother, Anna Krshul Stippec Kalafatich. Ann missed her mother every day since her 1990 death, but now they are together. Ann was looking forward to getting together with her St. Louis family in the near future but was taken too soon. Her beautiful smile and attitude will always live in the hearts and memories of those who knew her. Please share your memories of Anna and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook.