Anna Kuper

Anna Esther Janssen Kuper, 83, died June 13, 2007, at Spring Creek Health Care Center, Fort Collins. Anna had been a resident at the Spring Creek Health Care Center since the spring 2004. Anna Esther Janssen Kuper, the first child and the only daughter of Grace C. Nederhoff Janssen and Gerald Dick Janssen Jr. was born Dec. 25, 1923, on her parents' farm outside the town of Wellsburg, Iowa. Anna attended the Wellsburg school. When Anna started school in Wellsburg, she had to learn how to speak and read the English language because the only language she was taught to speak at home was Low German PlattDeutsch. On Dec. 31, 1941, Anna Esther Janssen married Harry Jens Kuper in Worthington, Minn. They lived at Everly, Ackley, Mason City, rural Northwood, Kensett and Lakota, Iowa. Anna and Harry were divorced in 1968. Anna lived in Algona and Clear Lake, Iowa, until she retired in 1984 as a cook and then moved to Fort Collins. In Fort Collins, Anna was a foster grandmother at the United Day Care Center for 17 years for about 500 to 1,000 children with the Volunteer's of America Program until she became ill and had to quit in September 2003. Anna was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Collins. Anna enjoyed being with her family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and taking bus trips through the Senior Center of Fort Collins. Anna's hobbies were embroidery, quilting, latch hook rugs, crafts, gardening, bowling and playing golf and bingo. Anna is survived by five children: three sons, James Ruth Kuper of Greeley, Arnold Cindy Kuper of Algona, Iowa, and Andy Pat Kuper of Algona; two daughters, Betty Ray Niswender of Fort Collins and Mary Donn Cox of Hotchkiss; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert Lois Janssen of Morrison; two aunts, Alice Janssen of Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Mabel Nederhoff of Wellsburg, Iowa, as well as several nieces and nephews. Anna was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Larry Kuper; one granddaughter, Grace Kuper and one brother, Carl Janssen. Funeral services will be officiated the by Rev. Jim Rasmussen at 4 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Stuart St. in Fort Collins. Services also will be at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, Kensett, Iowa. Interment will be Saturday, June 16, 2007, at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, in rural Kensett, Iowa. Memorials can be brought to the service or sent to: Memorial for Anna Kuper, 31867 L Rd, Hotchkiss, CO 81419.