Anne Walstead Obituary

Anne Marie Walstead, 88 of Laurens, Iowa – Sunrise: December 10, 1936 and Sunset: May 22, 2025 at the Laurens Care Center, Laurens, Iowa.
Funeral services will take place Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. at First Christian Church in Laurens. Burial will be in the Laurens Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 4-6:00 p.m. at Laurens United Methodist Church in Laurens. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.
Anne was born to Howard A. and Mable E. (Kemp) Mackie in Laurens. She was born and raised on the W. S. Mackie farm east of town. The family moved to Laurens in 1952 and, after her graduation from Laurens Consolidated School in 1955, she went to work in the I.B.M. department of M. & J.R. Hakes. On November 4, 1956, she married Ronny Walstead at Eastside Church of Christ in Laurens, and their union was blessed with five children: sons Scott and Todd, and daughters Dawn, Lyne, and Jaye. They celebrated 50 years of marriage before Ronny's death on July 31, 2007. She lived 59 years in the former home of Francis G. Hakes, built in 1894.
Anne worked at various jobs including part-time at Hakes, Avon Sales Representative, Nelson Potato Farm, bookkeeper at Simplot Soilbuilders at Ware, secretary at O's Gold Seed Company, and bookkeeper at Dudley Implement. She graduated summa cum laude from Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg with an Office Specialist diploma in 1985. Afterward she worked at Beneke Law Offices for ten years and four years for the Pocahontas County attorney until her retirement in 2000.
Anne was baptized at the Eastside Church of Christ in 1949. She later became an active member of the First Christian Church for 50 years. She sang in the choir, taught Bible and Sunday School, designed floral arrangements for worship, served as officer of CWF, deaconess, and various committees. In 2021 she started to worship at the United Methodist Church. For 33 years she sponsored five children in India through Christian Children's Fund and found great joy in their successes.
Anne was affiliated with Women's Club, Garden Club, the Wa-tan-ye's (businesswomen's organization), and Christian Women's Club. She served as president of the Garden Club and State Junior Garden Club Chairman. She sang with the Choraliers for four years and served as president for one. She was included in the book "Outstanding Young Women of America". She was a past president of the Women's Association of Laurens Golf & Country Club. Anne delivered Meals on Wheels and was instrumental in organizing many of her high school class reunions. She was blessed to travel internationally to Germany, Ireland, and her ancestral home of Scotland as well as visit Lauren's Sister City, Laurens, France in 2008.
Anne was actively involved with Boys and Girls Scouts from 1967-1984. She was a den mother, den leader coach and secretary for Cub Scout Pack 99. She was Round Table Commissioner for Prairie Gold Area council and worked with Boy Scout Troop 99. She was the recipient of the District Award of Merit. She served on the Girl Scout Day Camp staff for ten years and was president for two. Anne served as leader of Junior Troop 270, Cadette Troop 247, and Senior Troop 256. She was Neighborhood chair, served on the board of Lakota Girl Scout Council and received the "Thanks Badge" award. Through the Scouts Anne and Ronny organized numerous newspaper pick-up drives.
Anne was an avid bowler, enjoyed flower arranging, singing, and traveling to see her children and grandchildren. She lived by two motto's – "To thine own self be true" and "Where there's a will, there's a way". She will be remembered for sending countless cards to encourage others, her life-long enjoyment of decorating, and love of roses, ferns, butterflies, peacocks, and the colors purple and teal.
Left to cherish her memory are: Scott (Myra) Walstead of Colorado Springs, CO; Todd (Kathleen) Walstead of Houston, TX; Lyne (John) Lovetere of Plano, IL; and Jaye (Ed) Grattan of Iowa City, IA; grandchildren Alexandra, Christian, and Kyllian Lovetere; Quinn and Charlotte Walstead; brother Gene Mackie of Cedar Falls, IA; sisters-in law Leritta Mackie of Boone; JoAnn Mertens of Mt. Pleasant; Delores Walstead of Spirit Lake; and a host of family and friends.
Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Mabel Mackie; her husband, Ronny; 12-year-old daughter Dawn; sister, Mary Joy and her husband Harrison Roberts; brother, Roger and his wife Harriet Mackie; brother, Jerry Mackie; and an infant sister, Lona Lee.
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the staff at Laurens Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care and support during Anne's final days.
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