In Memory

Helen A. (Ann) Anderson (Orton) VIEW PROFILE

Helen A. (Ann) Anderson (Orton)

 

A celebration of her life will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2015, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. Rose Blank, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Grinnell, officiating.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Friday at the Smith Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the H. Ann Orton Memorial Fund, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com.

Helen Ann Orton was born to Gale Corbin Anderson and Gertrude Belle (Young) Anderson on July 10, 1943 in Waterloo, Iowa. Her very early years were spent in Waterloo and as she began her school years, the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. She was a graduate of Lincoln High School, Class of 1961, and spent much of her time involved in music, drama, and dance in high school. She was a member of many clubs and organizations, including Girls Glee, Orpheons, Mimes, Mummers, Student Council, Octet, Aeolian Choir, and Peppers.

Ann, called Andi by her classmates, was a 1965 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in Speech, Drama and English, with a minor in Vocal Music. She attended university from home, was an off-campus member of the Willard Sorority and earned a membership in Theta Alpha Phi, national theatre honorary.

Ann met her husband, Stanley LeRoy Orton, while attending Nebraska Wesleyan, and the two were married on May 30, 1964, at the Trinity Methodist Church in Lincoln. Following graduation, the couple moved to Santa Monica, California in pursuit of their careers, but feeling the pressures of the Vietnam draft, Stan chose to enlist in the United States Army rather than become drafted. Fate stationed him in Seoul, South Korea following basics and the nature of this assignment allowed Ann to move to Seoul to be with him.

The couple lived in private, off-base housing where they loved hosting local orphanage children in their home. Ann was always fond of children, these orphans especially, and sometimes spoke about her wish to have adopted in South Korea. Unable to do so, they hosted often and continuously brought the children of their landlord with them while visiting the cultural landmarks of South Korea, so that the children might see their native sights.

Ann loved to explore the culture and cuisine and very often enjoyed daily visits in the local produce markets, often surrounded by groups of children. Ann also used her education while in country, teaching Conversational English at Chung-Ang University in Seoul as well as becoming involved in a local drama-theatrical club.

After becoming pregnant, Ann eventually moved back to Lincoln to live at home with her parents while Stan finished his tour of duty. The couple was blessed with a son, Matthew, and after her husband’s return from service, they moved the family to Boulder, Colorado in pursuit of their masters degrees. In 1970, Ann received her Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Colorado, majoring in Theatre Arts.

Following their masters, the couple moved the family briefly to Sidney, Iowa before relocating to Marathon, Iowa for employment. There, Ann gave birth to her second child, her daughter Shawn, before beginning to work at Marathon High School. An Artist-in-Residence, she taught Speech and Drama as well as coached students in extra-curricular activities.

Between 1970 and 1990, Ann lived in Marathon, Denison, Iowa, Shenandoah, Iowa, and Tucson, Arizona. During this time, her marriage ended in divorce, she spent time caring for her parents until their passing, and her children both graduated from college.

Finally in 1990, Ann moved to Grinnell, Iowa where she would stay in the community she felt was home for the remainder of her life. Ann worked in the Office of Admission as a Visit Coordinator-Admission at Grinnell College from August 1990 until her retirement in July of 2009.

Ann was a member of the United Methodist Church in Grinnell, and served as the director of the Carillon Bell Choir. Hand bells were a great love of Ann’s and so she also served as the director of the United Church of Christ Congregational Peelers Bell Choir.

Ann’s family and faith were the most important aspects of her life, her friendships cherished and equally valued. She was considered by all who knew her as a woman of faith, talented musician and dancer, active in theater as an actress, director, choreographer, and music director. She was a great lover of the outdoors, camping and exploring anywhere, but particularly favored ocean views and the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. The Anderson sisters planned annual vacations into the unexplored where they could laugh, eat, shop, and enjoy themselves together while sightseeing in the country they loved.

Ann was an excellent, long-time cook who most often worked from scratch without recipes but with lots of instinct. Among her most favored dishes was her towering, deep-dish apple pie, and those in the know recognized her favorite ingredient, vanilla, in all her baked goods.

Over her lifetime, Ann enjoyed gardening and rose gardens, going for long walks to appreciate Grinnell’s diverse architecture, sketching house floor plans, collecting bells and dolls, reading, theater, watching all genre of movies and television series on disc, and spending time with her family. She will be remembered for the intense love she had for her family, for her self-sufficiency and independence, for her role as the family historian, and most especially for her kind, generous and caring ways.

Ann is survived by her son, Matthew Orton, of Sidney, Iowa; daughter Shawn and husband Monte Munsinger of Shenandoah; three granddaughters, Erica, Mariah and Alexa Munsinger of Shenandoah; and two sisters, Janet Workman and Gayla Anderson, both of Lincoln, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gale and Gertrude Anderson of Tucson, Arizona, and her sister Sally Anderson of Grinnell. The status of her only brother, John Anderson, is unknown.



 
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03/26/15 09:27 PM #5    

Glenda M. Jenkins (Mahagan)

I was so sorry to hear of Helen's passing.  She and I went to Everett , church, LHS and Nebraska Wesleyan together.  Singing with her in Girls Octet was such a joy ; we had such fun.  My sincere condolences to her family.


03/28/15 11:20 AM #6    

Glenda M. Payne (Clark)

A life well lived!  My sincere sympathies to her family and to her loved ones.  She 

was a remarkable woman.  I feel privileged to have known her.  


03/28/15 05:34 PM #7    

Donna Vinson (Giebelhaus)

sorry for her families loss. She was a funn nice girl.


03/29/15 03:11 PM #8    

Jane Bernhardt (Johnson)

Helen was a dear high school friend. By now she has probably made many improvements to God's Heavenly  Fine Arts Department! My sympathy to those who knew and loved her. She was special.


03/30/15 08:04 AM #9    

Betty L. Hunt (Foster)

Sweet person. Life well lived !


03/30/15 10:35 AM #10    

Jan E. Reimers

Of course I remember Helen!  And am so sorry to hear of her passing. Also sorry I didn't keep in touch as I was in and out of Grinell numerous times during the years she was there.  Some of our best friends lived at the Mayflower home there. It is a charming town and I can imagine her fitting in well!  Strength to those who are close to her and comfort in good memories.  Jan Reimers


03/30/15 05:08 PM #11    

Rosemarie Jacobs (Magee)

So sorry to hear of Helen's passing. Far too young!! She was such a talented young woman and her life and abundant talents were shared wherever she lived. My, the lives she touched! Blessings and peace to all of her family and to her good friends from LHS.


03/30/15 05:21 PM #12    

Rosemary Long (Jamison)

I was in Octet with Helen and always remember her beautiful voice.  I remember also her acting in school plays and her leadership in various LHS activities.  What an interesting life she led - so positive and productive.  I'm really impressed with everything she did through the years of her adult life with the focus on the arts and her activities with children while living in Seoul.  Gone too soon.  R.I.P.


03/31/15 04:40 PM #13    

David R. Wicken

So sorry to hear about Helen. I remember her mostly from Everett Jr. High. She taught me and Steve Bassler and four other guys how to do the hula for a program the school put on for the parents. Went to her house for some lessons. I think she lived around Plymouth Church. She laughed alot with us clodhoppers trying to be graceful.

Saw her last at I think,  the 25th class reunion. Anyway the one where we met at the Burlington Depot. I did not remember her being that tiny. She was so pretty, nice and very shy. She was just a neatLady.

 


02/20/18 11:04 AM #14    

Joan D. Rockwell (Brannigan)

So wished she could have come to our reunions. She had a gorgeous voice and I would have loved to talk about music with her. It's too bad she couldn't have made her dream of acting a reality although it sounds like she did a lot in Iowa. It seems she was a very caring, loving daughter and mother. Sad to hear her marriage did not last but maybe it was for the best. You are missed, Helen.

 

 

 


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