Josephine Anacker

Josephine Virginia Anacker was loving and kind, wise and attentive to her family, friends and community. The joy of learning was nurtured in childhood and remained with her for life. She read voraciously and traveled broadly, thrilling to learn about various places and cultures and instilling the same in her children. She was as happy attending classical music concerts and the theater as she was exploring nature and recreation. Her home was a gathering place for family and friends and a welcoming atmosphere for her children and their friends to discuss the deeper matters of life. Josephine believed it was her duty to make the world and her community a better place, and accordingly she was involved with numerous charities. She especially watched over the interests of women and children, and focused her life on serving others.

Josephine Virginia’s story began in Oak Park, Illinois. Josephine Virginia was born to Karl and Emma (Pavlik) Fitzpatrick and joined her sister Ruth on May 23, 1922. When Josephine was five years old, the family moved to Muskegon, Michigan and attended First Congregational Church, where Josephine remained a member her entire life. Early on, her parents started Fitzpatrick Electric Supply Company, with Karl running the business and Emma doing the books. Young Josephine had the pleasure of helping her Mom count the cash drawer as well as rollerskating down the store aisles. The family lived in several locations in downtown Muskegon before her parents built a beautiful home on Bear Lake in North Muskegon, where Josephine did most of her schooling.

Josephine attended Muskegon High School and was voted Best All Around in her graduating class of 1940. During the height of WWII, she studied at the University of Michigan, helped with the war effort and was a proud member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She earned a degree in history and graduated in 1944, ready to take on the world.

Josephine took a job with Encyclopedia Britanica in Chicago before becoming a fire insurance underwriter for Lansing B. Warner Co. While living in Evanston, Illinois, she met George Anacker who lived just down the street. The two got to know each other as they socialized with friends—square dancing, hiking, canoeing and more. Over time, their friendship grew into love and commitment, and they were married in on June 7, 1950 at St. Paul Episcopal Church in Muskegon.

In 1952, Josephine gave birth to their first child, Greg, and in 1953 the little family moved to Muskegon when George took a job with Fitzpatrick Electric Supply Company. It was a real family affair when Josephine’s brother-in-law Bob Wheaton had joined the company earlier, and George and Bob operated the business while Josephine and Ruth served on the board of directors. Over a period of 50 years that Josephine was with the Fitzpatrick, she put her business sense, management ability and organization skills to work in growing the business into a company with several locations in west Michigan. All the while, she excelled as a wife and mother, never hesitating to shed wisdom on business and family life with such quotable quotes as:

“Money does not make you better than anyone else, it just gives you choices”

"If you get angry, you’ve lost the argument”

"You can do anything you really want to”

"Don’t ever let a man (boss) know you can type (or you will be pushed into only-a-secretary stereotype)”

"Don’t ever let a man know you can cook (rather, you want him to marry you for your brains, not your cooking)”

The Anacker family grew to five when daughter Susan was born in 1954 and son David in 1956. Josephine loved being a mom and was very invested in her children’s lives. She was a Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School teacher and general household manager. She developed a way of marching the kids off to bed while she played the piano, and in that way alone, her childhood piano lessons were not a waste. Each summer, the family took road trips all over the country, visiting national parks, museums and historical sites that fascinated history-buff mom and taught the kids something new.

In 1964, the Anackers set about framing a cabin on property they had acquired on the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River near Baldwin. They went up on weekends, and over time with everyone helping, they finished the walls and roof of their vacation getaway. The cabin provided years of fun and wonderful memories and is still used by the family to this today.

In the 1970s, after the death of her father, the family moved into his house on Bear Lake and remained there for the duration of Josephine’s life. At home, Josephine was very comfortable curling up with a book, reading serious literature and biographies as well as scholarly works on science, theology and religion. Even when her vision declined in later years, she still “read” books on tape. She belonged to several book clubs and always made a study of the places she and George visited on vacation. Each trip became a learning experience as they traveled all over the world: Austrailia, China, Europe; on cruises with family members and to visit their daughter in New Zealand.

Josephine was also very involved in the community and volunteered with various organizations. During her lifetime, she was President of First Congregational Church, President of the Muskegon Children’s Home, President of the Service League, a Trustee of the Muskegon Community Foundation, a board member of the Friends of Hackley Public Library and more. Her knowledge and experience were highly valued, and she contributed to the good of many people, especially women and children.

For the last number of years, Josephine was nearly blind, but she never let it slow her down. George was a wonderful caregiver for her and their life as a married couple for 64 years was exemplary. Eventually the years took their toll, and on Monday, November 17, 2014, Josephine died in the home she loved, surrounded by the family she adored.

Mrs. Josephine V. Anacker, age 92 of Muskegon, Michigan, led a full and wonderful life, minimizing the challenges and focusing on learning and giving back.

Josephine is survived by her husband of 64 years, George; children, Greg (Lora Bennett) of Seattle, Susan (Jim Johnson) of Minneapolis, and David (Darlene) of Grand Haven; six grandchildren; Karl Anacker, Kristyn Anacker, Garrett Anacker, Jordan Anacker, Leo Johnson, Anika Johnson; sister-in-law, Helen K. Perry; and many nieces and nephews. Josephine was preceded in death by her sister, Ruth Wheaton, and brothers-in-law, Robert Wheaton, & Calvin Perry.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, November 22, 2014, 2:00 pm at First Congregational Church UCC with Rev. Timothy D. Vander Haar officiating. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Friday, November 21, 2014 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon and Saturday, one hour prior to the service at the church. MEMORIAL: In lieu of flowers please consider giving to First Congregational Church UCC or The Women and Children's Fund at The Community Foundation for Muskegon County.