Obituary of Anna Schaffner

Anna (Eisenbeis) Schaffner passed away peacefully on July 24, 2020. Anna was born on May 23, 1917 in a sod house on the prairie of Kidder County, North Dakota. She was the first of nine children born to Adolph and Mary Eisenbeis. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Tony, her oldest daughter, Sharon (Schaffner) Ballew, her parents, and siblings Reinhold, Martha, Hulda, Wesley, Harry, and Robert. She is survived by sisters Amy (Darrel) and Leona (James), sister-in-law Arlene, daughter Elaine (Loring), grandchildren Michelle (Matt), Aaron (Sarah), Matthew (Darcy), Travis (Jessica), 11 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Anna worked in the fields alongside her father and in the home with her mother where she learned to cook, can foods, and sew. After her father’s death, she helped to raise her siblings. In 1945, with encouragement from her dear friend Eva, she relocated to Hood, California where she lived with Eva and her husband and found a job packing pears. It was here that she met Eva’s husband’s visiting nephew, a short and feisty Navy Seabee, who had been discharged at Port Chicago, CA. Although short in stature, he had a giant personality and a heart of gold. Anna and Tony fell in love, married, and made their home in Sacramento where they raised their family. Anna worked at Campbell Soup for several years until their home was paid off. Once their children were older, Anna worked for JC Penney and Lawrence’s Department Store. She also volunteered at the Methodist Hospital gift shop for 25 years. Anna and Tony were longtime active members of the First EUB Church that later became Faith United Methodist Church. Anna called Greenhaven Estates home for the last 12 years, and her family would like to thank the staff there for all the love and care that she received. We would also like to thank Greenhaven Eskaton for the care she received during her final days. Due to COVID-19, a celebration of Anna’s life will be held at a later date.