Anna I. Paalman

ANNA PAALMAN
1914 – 2010

It's the dash that matters and Anna lived it well.

Mom left this life after a brief illness to be with Jesus on Tuesday morning, May, 11, 2010. She was born in the town of Vandenbroek on May 21, 1914, daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Hietpas) Van Handel. On July 10, 1934, she married Joseph Paalman in Little Chute; he preceded her in death on October 8, 1961.

We will miss her for many reasons. Mom shared her love of life with all that came in contact with her. It didn't matter if you were a life long friend or someone she had never met before, she shared the love Jesus gave her. Even when her sight declined she always shared a warm greeting and let you know she cared about you even if she had to ask who you were after that warm greeting. Mom never knew a stranger. She shared Jesus' love for all of God's children.

Mom especially loved children. She and Dad had helped two foster boys, Rodney and Jeff, and never forgot them. She also raised two sons of her own, Richard and Gerald, and was always proud of them. She felt privileged to have four grandchildren and was equally delighted to have seven Godchildren. After Dad died she took care of several children in her home through the years. Mom always believed in a very strong work ethic, which came from growing up on the family farm. Even at the end of her life she felt needed if she had work to do.

She is survived by her two sons: Richard (Julia) Paalman and Gerald (Joan) Paalman, all of Greenville; four grandchildren: Sarah Paalman, Adam (Martha) Paalman, Katie (Chris) Feavel, and Brett Stephens; two sisters: Martha Woldt, Barbara P. (A. Gene) Sprague; a brother: Raymond J. (Marge) Van Handel, sisters-in-law: Julia Burns, Frances Van Thiel, Mary Jane Paalman, and Noreen Paalman. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well as grandnieces and grandnephews.

Anna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe in 1961, brothers: Richard Van Handel, Raymond Van Handel, Theodore Van Handel, Edward (Blanche) Van Handel, and Earl (Audrey) Van Handel; sisters: Barbara Van Handel, Josephine (Martin) Van Asten, and Cora Van Handel; and brothers-in-law: Hank (Lucille) Paalman, Theodore (Adeline) Paalman, Frank (Violet) Paalman, Carl Pendergast, Ronald Peterson, Ray Woldt, Jim Burns, John Van Thiel, William Paalman, and Tony Paalman.

Mom was a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Kimberly since moving to Kimberly in 1939 from Little Chute. Mom was the best mother, grandmother, sister, in-law, aunt, wife, daughter, and friend anyone could ask for. Mom loved to be on the go, visiting relatives and friends, or anything that would prevent her from sitting around. After Dad's death, Mom worked as a cleaning lady and made friends of those people and their families; work to her was life.

Mom touched many lives beyond these and they were in her thoughts and prayers always.

The funeral liturgy for Anna will be held at 5:30 PM on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at ST. PIUS X PARISH, 500 W. Marquette Street in Appleton with Fr. Thomas Farrell officiating. Interment will be in St. John Catholic Cemetery, Little Chute. Friends may call directly at the church on Thursday afternoon from 3:00 PM until the time of the service.

We would like to thank the staff at Brewster Village where Mom spent her last four years, as well as her many friends and neighbors for all of the love and care they gave her.

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 E. Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, WI 54136
920 788-6202