Anne Witwer Busterud

Anne was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 3, 1928. Her family moved to Ojai California when she was a child and she grew up with her parents and brother Bob on the Crooked Creek orange ranch in the Ojai Valley. She attended the Ojai Valley School and graduated from the Flintridge-Anoakia School before heading East for college. Anne graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in English Literature in 1949. After a grand tour of Europe with her college classmates, Anne moved to San Francisco in 1951 where she worked for the Committee for a Free Asia.

In 1952 Anne married the love of her life, John A. Busterud. They were soon blessed with three children, John, James and Mollie. Anne was a devoted wife, sister, mother and grandmother to her family and loyal friend to many. Her friends and family valued Anne’s grace and elegance, sense of humor and humility. She also worked tirelessly to support her husband’s political career, first in the California Legislature and later for many years in Washington, DC. She loved sharing her life’s experiences with her husband and children, including vacations in Europe and visits to her enchanted Ojai Valley. She relished memorable three-generation family trips to Eaton’s Ranch in Sheridan, Wyoming, a guest ranch she enjoyed for many years with her father and brother Bob while growing up. Anne also had a lifelong love of literature and was an avid writer. Later in her life, she cherished travel and companionship with John and doting on her seven grandchildren. She was a member of the Town and Country Club and active in community service, including the Junior League, where she shone as a stylish model in the annual fashion show. She also served on the Vestry of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity and on three committees at Smith Ranch Homes, a retirement community in San Rafael.

Anne is predeceased by her parents Frank and Rachel and her stepfather Robert C. Davis. She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, John; brother Bob Davis, Jr.; children John (Gretchen) Busterud, James Busterud and Mollie (Mike) Dunlap; grandchildren Becky and Tommy Busterud, Holt, Spencer and Ellie Dunlap, and Rachel and James Busterud, Jr.

A memorial service and reception will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in San Rafael at 2 pm on Saturday April 11, 2015. Donations in Anne’s memory may be made to: The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.preservationnation.org) and The Marin Community Foundation (www.marincf.org).

Services Entrusted to Keaton’s Mortuary