Walters, Ann Louise Engberg

Ann Louise Engberg Walters, 90, passed away on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at Summit Pointe Senior Residential Community in Marion of complications from Parkinson's disease. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Rapids, by Pastor Heather Hayes. Visitation: 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.

Survivors include her husband, John B. “Jack” Walters; four children, James (Janet) Walters of Lake Lure, N.C., Martha (David) Booth of Marion, Iowa, Thomas (Susan) Walters of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Mary (Scott) Malcolm of Chicago, Ill.; niece, Anne (Timothy) Leland of Shorewood, Minn.; great-niece, Elizabeth Leland of Minneapolis, Minn.; great-nephew, Robert Leland of Minneapolis; and grandchildren, Drew (Tonya) Harper of Marion, Greg Walters of Jackson, Wyo., Michael (fiancee, Danielle Armbruster) Walters of Madison, Wis., Sara Walters of Fitchburg, Wis., Eric (Alexandra) Malcolm of Chicago, Kristin Malcolm of Charlestown, Mass., and Karen Malcolm of Charlestown, Mass.; and two stepgrandchildren, Penny (Kristian) Hass of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Michael (Sarah) Booth of Las Vegas, Nev. A great-grandchild is expected in April 2012. She also leaves behind numerous dear friends, for she was loved by many.

Ann was born Aug. 25, 1921, in Erdahl, Minn., to Elmer and Estelle (Nesbett) Engberg. She attended school in Minneapolis and moved to Cedar Rapids, where she graduated from Franklin High School in June of 1939. While a senior in high school, she met her husband, Jack. She attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, and graduated in 1943, with a degree in commerce and finance. While at Coe, she made lifelong friends through her affiliation in Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She and Jack married Feb. 14, 1943, (Valentine's Day) before Jack's entering the Army Air Corps in World War II.

During their 68 years together, Ann and Jack traveled in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and parts of Europe. They were die-hard Kohawks, and in addition to their own four children, they parented two foreign-exchange students from Brazil and Italy. They spent over 40 summers at their second home in McGregor, Iowa, where they were members of the McGregor Upper Mississippi Yacht and Boat Club. They also followed the Hawkeyes to the Rose Bowl in 1956. Ann participated in Alpha Xi Delta Alumnae sorority where she received the Edna Epperson Brinkman Award for meritorious service. She was in Bridge Club, Gourmet Club, Shakespeare Club, and Chapter Ll of PEO. She enjoyed needlework, reading, sewing, and cooking. As one of her exchange students said, “She was a good cook woman.” She was involved in all of her kids' activities, and spent many hours on the bleachers of Washington High School, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, and Luther College. As a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1946, she was deacon, president of the Women's Society, a Sunday school teacher, and a librarian. She was also a librarian and teacher at LaSalle High School for nine years.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Marjorie Morris; her sister-in-law, Jane Schoner; and brothers-in-law, Kenneth Schoner, Robert Straka, and Ed Morris.

If you wish, please make memorial donations to Coe College or First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Rapids.

A lunch will follow the service so the family may greet those who attend to honor Ann.

Please sign the online guest book for Ann at  under obituaries.

Published Jan. 16, 2012, in The Gazette