Anita Balgenorth

Anita Jo Balgenorth, 78, of Midland, Michigan, died on August 24, 2024, after a five-year battle with kidney cancer. We love and miss her tremendously, and she lives on in our hearts.

Anita worked for many years as an administrative assistant, including at Aldersgate United Methodist Church and Homer United Methodist Church in the Midland area and at Schoolcraft United Methodist Church. She was known by many for her outstanding organizational and grammar and punctuation skills, a talent she got from her mother and passed along to her children. She was a stickler for details and recorded just about everything in her Franklin Planner.

Anita was best known for her amazing quilts and mind-boggling fabric collection. Her quilts were exquisite masterpieces, and she often gave them as gifts and donated them to charities. She never met a fabric store she didn't like. In addition to quilting, Anita loved reading mysteries and other books and playing games. She didn't care who won, as long as everyone had fun. One of the highlights of Grandmanita's days was watching her grandkids perform, and she attended as many sporting events and theatre performances as she could. She loved animals and adored the many dogs and cats that were family members to her. Christmas was one of her favorite times of year, when her house was decorated with Christmas trees and smelled like the cookies she loved to bake and give away. Earlier in her life, Anita enjoyed playing clarinet, which she started in junior high and continued through her adult years in community bands, with Jack on percussion.

Anita was born on July 15, 1946, to George and Marguerite Couch in Pilot Mound, Iowa. She graduated from Atlantic High School in Atlantic, Iowa, and went on to study at Northwestern Missouri State College in Maryville, Missouri. Aside from her early years in Iowa, she lived most of her life in Midland and Portage, Michigan.

Anita and her beloved surviving spouse and soulmate, Jack Balgenorth, were married for 46 years. She also leaves behind three children: Brian Carl (married to Karen), Cari Rutkoskie (married to Wade), and Beth Balgenorth (married to Ernie Christiansen). Her grandchildren were the light of her life: Jacob Carl (married to Adrian), Jessica Carl, and Thomas Rutkoskie.

Anita was cremated, and the family will hold a memorial service at Oshtemo United Methodist Church on November 29, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Instead of sending flowers, please consider donating in Anita's name to the Toni & Trish House in Auburn, the wonderful hospice facility where she spent her last days.