Anna Knific, 92, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2018. Anna was born on July 26, 1926 to Stefan and Maria (Taubel) Waltenspiel in the ethnic German community of Franztal, Yugoslavia on the Danube River near Belgrade. In October of 1944, the Red Army swept through the region and her family was forced to flee their ancestral home and farm with only three hours notice. On foot, and with what few meager possessions could be carried on a single horse-drawn wagon, her family travelled 600 miles through the freezing autumn mud to a refugee camp near Mondsee, Austria. Anna lived there after the war, and met her husband, Peter, an emigrant from Slovenia a few years later. Sponsored by friends and relatives in the U.S., Peter and Anna immigrated to America in 1956. After a short time apart, they reunited in Pueblo; and married on June 29, 1957, then settled down and started their family. Peter passed away in 1989, and for the following 29 years Anna’s strength and self-reliance enabled her to be a guiding force in the lives of her daughters and grandchildren. A skilled cook and seamstress, master gardener, all-around handyman, loving Mom and Oma, Anna was a true renaissance woman and will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughters, Ursula (Charles) Perko and Irene Fowler; grandchildren, Charles, Anthony and Joseph Perko, Maria (Clayton) BonDurant; and great-grandsons, Joseph and soon-to- arrive, Baby Boy BonDurant. Preceded in death by her husband, Peter; her parents; brothers, Adam (Anna) Waltenspiel, Stefan (Elfie) Waltenspiel; sister, Maria (Tony) Laudenbach; son-in-law, Brad Fowler; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and many dear friends. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Sangre de Cristo Hospice, Sister Ricella Llanto and Jim Bacino for their frequent visits with Holy Communion, and her special caregiver, Jenni Heiser, for her help and attention over the last months of her life. Viewing, 6-8 p.m., Monday, August 6th, at the funeral home. Rosary, 9:30 a.m., and Funeral Mass, 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2018, at St. Mary Help of Christians Church, 311 E. Mesa Ave. Interment to follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Donations may be made in Anna’s memory to the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary Church, the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, or Sangre de Cristo Hospice in Pueblo. Online condolences at www.tgmccarthy.com.
