Annabell Landis

Annabell Sorensen Landis, a mother to eight and dedicated wife, died at the home of her daughter Ruth Ann McCoy and son-in-law Mark on July 27, 2017 in West Des Moines. She was 87. The daughter of Lila Haus Sorensen and Danish immigrant Christian Sorensen, Ann was born in Des Moines and spent her earliest years in rural Norwalk on the farm. The family eventually moved to Des Moines and she attended Des Moines public schools. As a young woman she worked as a waitress including time at Thompson’s Restaurant and Reed’s Ice Cream which is how she met her husband John (Jack). In 1965, the family moved to Clive. There she kept a flower and vegetable garden and raised chickens. Later, Ann worked for more than 25 years as a wrapper and weigher at Reames Noodles in Clive. She was a hard worker on the job, where as a waitress she often worked the third shift and at Reames where she frequently served on the second shift. At home she was a dedicated cook, making two eggs sunny-side up with bacon as the breakfast standard for Jack. Her children could count on the aroma of bacon every morning. The family ate dinner together almost every night. The menu might be a hearty chili, spaghetti and meatballs, fried chicken or a roast. She made delicious cinnamon rolls. In the 1970s and 1980s you needed to be early to a Dowling pancake breakfast or St. Theresa bake sale to get a dozen. She attended scores of her children’s softball and baseball games, and enjoyed attending AAA games and watching baseball on television. She faithfully attended Sunday Mass at St. Theresa Catholic Church and was active in the Rosary Society, even before converting to Catholicism in 1979. She instilled in her children the importance of family and continued to decorate the graves of her parents and other relatives until recent years. She loved family picnics, playing cards and board games, laughing at family stories and suffered through tragedy at times but never lost her sunny outlook on life. When she experienced anger or developed a grudge it was never visible for long. She also gave her time generously. She served as a troop leader for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, was a member of the Clive Ladies’ Auxiliary and assisted with St. Theresa funeral dinners. In the mid-1970s she could be seen driving a Ford Pinto wagon with the hatch open and kids hanging out headed to a Halloween haunted house or other destination. She donated dozens of gallons of blood and gave to every charity that asked for money especially those supporting veterans. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Floella, brother, Wayne, step-brother George, husband John, son Clement, daughter Christine and an infant daughter Marybell. She is survived by her brother Albert (Jo Ann) of Boone, daughter-in-law Gayle of Des Moines, daughters Ruth (Mark) of West Des Moines, Teresa Hosler (Rob) of West Des Moines, Kathy Davis (Jeff) of Windsor Heights and sons John of West Des Moines and Leo (Nancy) of Des Moines. She was grandmother to James, Michael, Melissa, Kaitlyn, Chelsea, Dan, Bryan, Melissa, Valerie and Forrest and a great-grandmother to twelve. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her. Visitation will be Monday, July 31 from 5:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. followed by a rosary at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Theresa Catholic Church at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, August 1. Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery followed by a luncheon at St. Theresa Parish Hall. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Theresa Foundations of Des Moines.