Anna Bitschura, 89

Born: April 26, 1932, in Germany

Died: Nov. 19, 2021, in Barrington, Ill.

Anna Bitschura, 89, of Woodstock, died peacefully, in her sleep, on Nov. 19, 2021, at JourneyCare in Barrington, Ill.

She was born April 26, 1932, in Germany to Joseph and Amalie (Beck) Mader.

Anna graduated from professional school, as a seamstress, in 1952. Sewing was only one of a long list of skills that she maintained of efficiency and proficiency. She never backed down from a challenge and was always busy. She was an excellent cook, baker, loved to knit, crochet, garden, and make holiday snow angels. In her earlier years, she loved to go dancing with friends on Saturday nights. In the later years, she liked to go on destination trips throughout the U.S. But one of her favorite pastimes was to play bingo.

On Jan. 23, 1954, she married William (Willy) Bitschura in Panzberg, Germany. They immigrated to the United States in July 1956 and set up their home in Woodstock. Together they lived in Woodstock and celebrated 64 years of marriage before Willy’s death in 2018. They were members of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock.

Anna semi-retired (due to company closure) as a production line leader, in 1991, at Oaks Manufacturing Co. in Crystal Lake after 35 years of service. In November 1993 she started a part-time job as a food products demonstrator at Sam’s Club in Crystal Lake. She finally retired in January 2010 after 16 years of service and all demonstrator positions having been eliminated.

Grateful for having two great sons in her life, Walter (Wally) Bitschura of Woodstock and Peter (Margaret) Bitschura of LaCrescent, Minn.; two grandchildren, Emily (Ian) Baker of LaCrosse, Wis., and Erika (Ryan) Brown of LaCrescent, Minn.; and three great-grandchildren, Millicent Baker and Joe and John Brown.

Also surviving are sisters, Erna Haynes, Rosewell, Ga., Erika (Stanley) Moss, U.K., and Herta (Helmut) Lambertseder, Panzberg, Germany; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Besides her husband, Willy, she was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Stephanie Schwaiger, Ella Marsch, Isetta Ruetschlin, and Traudl Dollinger; and a brother, Otto Mader.

Cremation of remains will be conducted by the Cremation Society of Illinois. A burial service of the cremains will be conducted at a future time. The service will be private.