Anna Stenstrom

A Celebration of the Life of Anna Bell Stenstrom
10/24/1939 - 07/11/2015

Anna Bell was born on October 24, 1939, at Des Moines General Hospital to Evert Alvin and Ada Bell Parr. In 1944, while her father served in the Navy, she lived in California. Back in Iowa, she first went to Commerce Grade School, which was a one room schoolhouse. She then attended various other schools and then Van Meter High School, where she was captain of the cheerleaders and graduated in 1958. In 1962 her family moved to an acreage in Clive, Iowa.

Anna was hired by Look Magazine because of her beautiful penmanship. She would write people’s names in gold on envelopes and certificates. She was then employed at Tension Envelope where she was introduced to Jehovah's Witnesses by a coworker and after studying the Bible with them she symbolized her dedication to Jehovah God by water baptism on May 29, 1965. She attended the Murray Hill Congregation in Des Moines.

Anna met Jerry Stenstrom at an Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses held in Nevada, Iowa in 1966. They were married six months later on July 2, 1966, at the Union Park Kingdom Hall where they attended. They remained devoted to each other another 49 years. They were blessed with two children and one grandson.

Anna worked for various other companies such as: American Republic Insurance Co., Target, Richman Gordman, Hickery Farms, Walgreens, and from 1992 to 2014, Sears.

Anna's most important work however was sharing as a volunteer in the global Bible educational work being accomplished by Jehovah's Witnesses. In 1988, she became a Regular Pioneer at the Watrous Terrace Congregation, joyfully sharing the good news of the Kingdom full-time for 28 years. She especially enjoyed conducting home Bible studies and street witnessing in downtown Des Moines. Over the years she was able to help several to dedication and baptism.

Faithful in attendance at the Kingdom Hall she loved being surrounded by the congregation studying the Bible. She was enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School, writing and giving many talks. Some of the highlights of her life were attending assemblies and conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses (including an International Convention held in St. Louis, MO), visiting the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York (1988), attending Pioneer meetings and The Pioneer Service School three times (classes of 1988, 2005, and 2013).

Anna passed away on July 11, 2015. Always pleasant to be around, she was a deeply spiritual person who showed genuine love to others in a gentle, kind, and compassionate manner. She loved spending time with her friends and family. She had a beautiful singing voice. She enjoyed the Iowa State Fair and other festivals. She loved her cats, traveling, picnics, swimming, reading, drawing, fashion, shopping, dancing, listening to music, and to her husband play his trumpet as a jazz musician. She will do similar things and much more when she is reunited with us again under God's Kingdom rule. (Ps. 37:29; Mt. 5:5; Re. 21:3,4)

Anna was preceded in death by her parents and two nieces. She is survived by her husband, Jerry; son, Daniel Stenstrom; daughter, Deborah (Aaron) Natera; grandson, Kevin Stenstrom; sisters, Rosalind (Warren) Herzberg and Gloria (Robert) Barnes; as well as three nieces, seven great-nieces and six nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2015, with time for visiting and fellowship following the funeral, at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Pkwy, West Des Moines.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be expressed at
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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