Annelise Guberman
July 07, 1930 - October 01, 2011
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Annelise Guberman
July 07, 1930 - October 01, 2011
Obituary
Ann Guberman (Olson, Gebken) was born July 7, 1930 Rock Island, Illinois. Her parents were Freidrich ‘Fred’ Wilhelm and Mary Ann (Leininger) Gebken. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lotts Creek, Iowa November 14, 1930 and confirmed at Saint Johns Lutheran Church, Burt, Iowa. She is survived by sons Larry, Kermit, Scott and Jim Olson, as well as Sisters Betty Allen, Marie Boster and brothers DuWayne & Richard Gebken and 7 grandchildren. Joining Ann in heaven is her daughter Robyn Sue Bogle (Bales, Olson), brother Paul Gebken and her lifetime partner and husband Jerald Guberman.
The family moved from Rock Island to Whittemore, Iowa, then to farms in Jackson, Minnesota and Wesley, Iowa. Finally they moved from Wesley to Burt, Iowa in 1945. She graduated from Burt High School in 1949. During high school she worked for Vogels Grocery Store in Burt. She married Lorimer ‘Barney’ Olson, the music teacher at Burt High School, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa in 1950. They moved from Burt to Spirit Lake, Iowa where she worked for Berkeley Industry making fishing tackle. From Spirit Lake they briefly moved to Sioux City and then to Algona, Iowa where she worked for Honsbruch Pharmacy. The family moved from Algona to California in 1966. As the children went to school Ann and Lorimer were divorced in 1973. Ann worked many jobs making sure her children were fully supported. Finally she found an entry position in electronic assembly, worked hard earning several promotions to supervisor where she met Jerald Guberman in the 70’s. Finally on May, 26, 1994 after 19 years of courtship Ann and Jerry were married.
She was a very talented artist and worked with all media, but was especially good at oil painting. She studied under a Czech restoration painter who worked at the Louvre. She met one of her lifelong goals of painting an oil painting for each of her children and siblings to remember her by. Everyone cherished the paintings she did. Finally in 2001 she developed Alzheimer’s which robbed her of her talent but she painted and did crafts until 2008.
Ann passed away at 7:15 pm On October 1, 2011 peacefully in her sleep at the home of her son Scott. She was surrounded by family.
A simple informal “Tribute to Ann’s Life” will be held at her last home, 72 Tessera Ave Foothill Ranch, CA 92610. Our home will be open from 1 pm until 7 pm on October 22, 2011. Everyone who knew Ann is invited to stop by and reminisce about her life. We sincerely request that no flowers be sent and if you feel a donation is necessary please donate to (www.alz.org.) or your favorite charity in her name.
Written by DuWayne Frederick Gebken, Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin and Scott Olson Foothill Ranch, CA 10/5/2011
37 responses to Annelise Guberman
Don Tietz says:
October 7, 2011
1 file added to the tribute wall
Sandy Petersen says:
October 7, 2011
My favorite memories of Ann – well, I have alot of them. I remember her taking care of me when I got very sunburned from swimming in the ocean when I was 13. I was so sick and was in bed for 2 days. I remember her telling me she loved the letters I would write. That is certainly a lost art! I remember the Olson family coming back and Ann and mother rode on a float at the Dolliver centennial. I think they actually enjoyed it! I remember when she packed up her family and took off in a car and a Uhaul to California. I remember giving all of my cousins a hug between the backyard and the Conoco station when they left. We thought surely something bad would happen to them all. But she was tough and resilient – and ultimately was so successful. I think its the German in them all that made the whole Gebken family to stubborn to fail. I remember the house being just perfect – beautifully decorated and always warm when we would visit. I remember she and Jerry laughing at most everything. They truly were 2 peas in a pod. She was a wonderful aunt and we loved her alot. She was always good to us. We will miss her and we do miss all of you in California. Many states keep us apart but know our deepest sympathies and love are with all of you. God bless and we know she, Jerry, Robin and MeToo are together again 🙂 All my love, Sandy (Allen) Petersen
Adrian Bogle says:
October 8, 2011
I called Ann “Grandmama.” And she was an awesome grandma to my kids. I remember the first halloween we shared together with Carrie and Sean all dressed up in their halloween costumes. (I don’t think AJ was even born yet). There was Ann wearing a pumpkin costume that she made herself! We all went treat-o-treating together and I think Grandmama had more fun than all of us. When I met Robyn, I knew that if her mom didn’t like me, I was out. Fortunately, Ann welcomed me into the fold with open arms and a warm heart. She always made me feel so special, like I was the greatest thing on earth. She was always so sweet to me and made me feel loved. She always called me her favorite son-in-law, which was pretty easy since I was her only son-in-law. Robyn looked up to her mom, and for good reason. Ann was a hardworker and earned everthing she had the old fashion way. It was a quality that you couldn’t help but admire. That work ethic rubbed off on Robyn; it was a quality they both shared. The two of them had a special unspoken bond, and it was an honor to get to be a part it. After Jerry died and we brought Ann back to California, Robyn took care of her Mom the best she could. But I think that last year really took its toll on her. Grandmama would call Robyn all the time–multiple times throughout the week. It was the strangest thing but the day that Robyn passed away, she never called her again. We never told Ann about Robyn because we all agreed, it wasn’t in her best interest. But I think that that bond between them was so strong that on some level, she knew. It brings me great comfort knowing Robyn and her Mom are together again in absolute joy and perfect love. I love you Grandmama! So long for now.
Your Favorite Son-in-law,
Adrian
DuWayne Frederick Gebken says:
October 8, 2011
California Bound
Ann, it was the summer of 1966 when you left for California. Two adults and five kids were crammed into the car along with the bare necessities. A towed pop up camper trailer was to be your home on the way out and for a while in California until you found a home with a real roof. The whole setup – car and trailer – looked like something from the Grapes of Wrath, and the trailer seemed barely big enough for two people, much less seven.
This meant nonessentials had to be left behind. We ended up with several items that belonged to you – an ironing board, a butcher knife, colander, various pots and pans, a dust mop – that started us on our married life. These household items were given to us on Betty’s front porch, where you also gave us our wedding present, a set of aluminum pots and pans that are still in use today. And, you explained you could not make it to our wedding. In 1966, those household items were very important since we had too few dollars anyway, but there was that much less to buy. Funny thing was, none of them were ever duplicated at the wedding or shower.
As we watched you leave from Betty’s house on 715 East State Street, a hole developed in our lives. We had spent a lot of time at your house on South Dodge Street during the summer of 1966. We did not have any money to spend on entertainment, so we spent the time with you and your kids. We visited and played games to while away the summer evenings, and saved our money for the inevitable expenses that would come up after we were married – tuition, books, apartment rent in Ames, gas for the car, and food.
We wondered if you would be ok in California and whether you would find jobs. We wondered when we would see you again since it was not likely that we could afford to go to California for some time. We worried about the kids. We worried whether you would find a decent home. All kinds of worries crept up as we waited for you to go and for a long time after.
Then the time came. You left about 6 PM on that summer evening. And, as you left, our last image was of Larry waving goodbye out of the back of the car. He was the most reluctant about going. I shared his apprehensions since I was hoping to teach him how to hunt and fish. Robin had grown fond of Janet and liked to sit on her lap and rummage through her purse looking for chewing gum. By the time we saw any of the kids, they would be married and most would have children of their own. Larry’s first remark on seeing us after twenty years was, “You aren’t so big. When I was little, you and Richard looked like giants.” Scott looked, walked and acted like me. I thought I had met my twin. We are all still the same people, just a little older, but not quite the same as in Iowa in1966.
By DuWayne Frederick Gebken
October 8, 2011
DuWayne Frederick Gebken says:
October 8, 2011
Annelise
Your father never called you Ann. I only knew him to call you Annelise. He was the only person to call you by your given name, probably because he chose it. The rest of us knew it was reserved for him since he picked your name in honor of his mother. Besides, it sounded best with a thick, authentic German accent so it could flow like it was meant to be the smooth-spoken equivalent of good German chocolate.
Your mother, sisters, brothers and friends called you Ann. Only one person called you Annie. That was Willie Vogel.
Your father didn’t come to the United States with much. A few clothes, including the wool suit he was married in and buried in, a few war medals, a few pictures, and a little jewelry. But, he had many memories of Germany. He gave you a distinctive and genuine German name, Annelise, to remind him of his mother back home in the Old Country.
I recall one winter in about 1956. You were living in Spirit Lake and had Larry, Scott and Kermit. It was Christmas Day. I remember him saying, “We have to clean the driveway. Annelise is coming for Christmas.”
I asked, “Are you sure. There sure is a lot of snow and the roads are probably bad.”
He replied. “Annelise will be here. Get to work.” There was a certain routine to cleaning the driveway, but it had to be retold every time with the usual German precision and emphasis on not doing a shoddy job. “Make sure the sides of the snow bank are straight and there is enough room to park and get out of the car without hitting the door on the snow bank. Don’t leave any loose snow in the driveway. And, make sure you do the path to the house, the sidewalk, the path to the clothesline, the path to the basement and the parking area. And don’t forget to throw the snow to the south so it doesn’t drift back in.” The same instructions were given every time no matter whether there was two inches of snow or two feet.
After three hours of shoveling snow, we went inside to warm up. Then the snow started falling heavier than ever. I recall thinking she will not come for sure. The weather is too bad. There were no good weather forecasts in those days, roads were not cleared to bare pavement, and tires and cars were not as reliable.
Soon, the driveway was partially drifted in, and it was time to go back and shovel it out again. But, that was better than waiting and worrying. We shoveled in silence me not saying a word and him stopping to rest and warm his hands on his breath.
As we neared cleaning the driveway for the second time that morning, we heard the sound of an approaching car and then the car itself, a white 1954 Pontiac that nearly blended into the blowing and drifting snow except for the big chrome bumper and pale yellow headlights. Then we could see the face of the driver with her hands firmly gripped on the steering wheel and three small kids. I turned and saw him look up, smile and go back to shoveling snow. Annelise was home for Christmas.
By DuWayne Frederick Gebken, brother of Annelise (Gebken) Guberman, June 8, 2000 for Ann’s 70th birthday.
Aufweidersehen im himmel liebe Annelise