Anne Louise Klaus

Anne Klaus was born on October 4, 1934 to Wilfred C. and Anne M. DeShields in Maxwell, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by husband of 58 years, Stephen R. Klaus (March 11, 1927 - December 17, 2021). Anne is survived by her sister, Nancy Shuman (Paul Shuman) and by her children, Scott (Krista), Slade (Roxanne), Susan (Darrin) and Stacey (Brett) and 5 grandchildren: Mackenzie, Spencer, Alexander, Georgia and Sonomi.

For most of her younger years, she lived in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Carlisle High School in 1952 where she was Cotton Queen and May Day Princess. She worked at United Telephone Company in Carlisle before beginning work at IBM where she met Steve. Later, Anne worked at the Bureau of National Affairs in the Washington, D.C. area. When children arrived, work became more part time, as she began to invest her time keeping up the many homes they owned (they moved dozens of times with IBM) and raising their four children.

When her children were in elementary school, Anne was chosen by General Mills to be a test family for new recipes that would appear on the back of cereal boxes, baking mixes and other products. She baked new recipes and filled out forms, sending feedback directly to General Mills such as about how much the family enjoyed the recipe and how easy it was to make. From then on, she would proudly say she provided a test kitchen for Pillsbury or Betty Crocker - and she loved to see the recipes she tested showing up on the back of General Mills products.

In addition to her love of gardening and tending to her geraniums, Anne was an active volunteer. She volunteered her time at Habitat for Humanity for 15 years. She was a frequent bell ringer for the Salvation Army. She also volunteered at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Shady Grove, Maryland.

Anne also enjoyed attending church and serving others in the churches to which she belonged. This included Christ United Methodist Church in Venice, Florida where she was a Stephen Minister. There was always a need and Anne was very involved with church activities and fellowship, including lunches, dinners, memorial services and funerals. In later years, she was also a member of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas and tried to never miss a Sunday service sitting with her friends in the same section below the large stained glass window she loved.

Anne will be remembered by her family and friends as a woman who loved to talk, but was always ready to listen. She was fun, beautiful, and always up for a challenge. And her sense of fashion was something she treasured. Her youthful attitude, appearance and style stayed with her throughout her years. Anne’s warm smile is etched in our memories. She was so proud of her growing family, looked forward to the future while remembering her past, and encouraged everyone to live a life of respect and dignity toward others. We will miss the light she brought to every gathering, and we wish her peace in her eternal rest.