DeAnn Anchustegui

DeAnn passed away peacefully after briefly suffering from a stroke. DeAnn is survived by husband Jim, children Christi (Johnny), Mollie (Dave), Rich (Annmarie), grandchildren Camden, Amaia, Daley, Riley, Amory, sweet dog Liddie, brother Hugh and sister-in-law Dolores Shore and family.

Born in Pocatello to Hugh and Anne, DeAnn lived a full and adventurous life. The apple of her daddy’s eye, she was a gifted student, piano player and member of the choir who nearly began a political career in Washington, DC. Fortunately, she was called back to Idaho where she started working at a law firm and rekindled a relationship with her high school crush, Jim. Jim and DeAnn dated for a few years and got engaged on her birthday January 18, 1965. After an 8 month engagement, Jim and DeAnn were married in her parents’ backyard on August 7, 1965. It was the hottest day of the year – 108 degrees! Their honeymoon to McCall, ID and then camping in a mobile home began the couple’s love for the outdoors with many more camping adventures to follow.

In 1966, right after their dog gave birth to a litter of puppies, DeAnn and Jim welcomed their first child. Jim had to leave for a business trip so DeAnn hung out at the hospital with her good friend Carolyn Reilly. Six months later, Jim and DeAnn moved from Idaho to Colorado. DeAnn was given the choice of Seattle or Denver. She chose the latter because she heard the Valley Highway (aka I-25) was a nice commuter route! Two more babies, 9 dogs and 2 cats later, DeAnn and Jim consider Colorado their home. They lived in the same house for 50+ years before moving to Eastern Star Retirement Community in 2017.

DeAnn was super-mom to her 3 kids and all their friends. She transported them to every sporting event and Star Wars premiere. Her Vista Cruiser station wagon and later her yellow Mazda pickup with the bubble windows were often seen around town packed with kids. DeAnn was especially known as team mom in charge of the Hampden Heights Harp Seals swim team. For a decade, she was the scorekeeper, merchandise buyer and seller while Jim was the starter. The couple gave the swim team a very bright future although DeAnn was mystified when her girls were arrested for pool-hopping. She thought after all the time at the pool, her kids would have been smart enough to design a better exit strategy.

In the winters when Hampden Heights closed, DeAnn raised the kids at Celebrity Sports Center. Bowling and swimming were the way of life! Later when the kids got a little more independent, DeAnn decided to re-enter the workforce. She took a part-time job with Gilette, had a territory of her own, drove her little yellow pickup truck with the bubble windows all over Denver stocking shelves. The kids loved the shampoo and shaving cream samples she brought home! Then dear friend Dan Klepper gave her a great job at Rollins Trucking Company. She got to be home every day when the kids got home from school. Later she worked for a temp agency to keep the pipeline full. DeAnn said, “Jim’s new adventure in Real Estate made us poor!” DeAnn’s final job was the best. She retired from Warsteiner in 1997. It was an unlikely job that came from the temp agency. She started as the receptionist and later became the bookkeeper. She loved every minute of the job that wasn’t supposed to happen but was absolutely meant to be.

DeAnn didn’t just cart the kids off to their sporting events. She had her own interests, too. When she was 45, she took up golf and played at least once a day, every day with her bestie Martha Henry. After 100 rounds, she said, “I can’t wait to master this game!” She didn’t hit the ball far but she was always straight down the fairway and mastered the chip shot like no other! DeAnn was an avid bowler as well. Even after her back started giving her trouble, she kept throwing strikes and spares and even played in the Prime Timers Tournament in Sam’s Town, NV.

Beyond the bowling alleys, DeAnn had a true love of the outdoors and travel. Jim and DeAnn camped nearly every weekend. They started out roughing it then upgraded to a motor home, then upgraded to Ports of Call Travel Club where they enjoyed the world from Mexico to Hawaii to Abaco, Cayman and Eleuthera, then later off to Fiji and a cruise to the Bahamas. The camping trips were local – Flying X Ranch, Lake McConaughy, Sand Dunes, Red Feather Lakes. Every adventure ended with an unforgettable memory. DeAnn’s CB call name was Swamp Witch but later changed to Polish Cowgirl because of a little fence issue. DeAnn narrowly escaped Rocky Mountain Fever because of a little tick issue at a rest stop north of Ft. Collins. But DeAnn could throw a costume party, serve a great meal, float in a giant truck tire and teach dogs to fetch more beer.

DeAnn was an excellent role model for how to throw a house party. There were parties for every occasion: May Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, putting the sprinklers in, Bridge, the Stock Show, Christmas and Thanksgiving, complete with cranberries, biscuits and Tom & Jerry’s. DeAnn was a true friend to all the neighbors!

DeAnn was also a loving and supportive grandmother. Just like with her own kids, she was present for all the births and then attended nearly every soccer game, swim meet, softball tournament, rugby match and baseball game. All the grandkids loved having their “Muma” cheering them on.

DeAnn will be so very missed by her family, her friends and neighbors. We know she’s up there sharing a cup of coffee with her mom and dad, telling them stories about her wonderful life. And she’s having a blast smoking and golfing with Martha. Here’s to DeAnn – thank you for blessing our lives!

In lieu of flowers, please consider:

Denver Dumb Friends League

2080 S Quebec St

Denver, CO 80231

Boise Basque Museum & Cultural Center, Inc

611 Grove St

Boise, ID 83702

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

P.O. Box 50

Memphis, TN 38101-9929