Anna, or Birdie as most people knew her, was the daughter of Ralph and Cornelia Gritters, born in Hull, Iowa, on September 21, 1926. Her family moved to Minnesota for a short period of time and eventually moved in 1940 to Bellflower, California, where she resided the rest of her life. She worked at the Long Beach naval shipyard during and after WWII and in 1948 she was happily married to Hank (Henry) Tiemeyer for 42 years, having four children: Loren, Susan, Gordon, and Janis.
Hank & Birdie were charter members of Rosewood (Third) Christian Reformed Church in Bellflower where she was active in many activities serving her Lord. She was a loving homemaker that was always willing to go the extra mile for her family. She enjoyed reading, traveling, camping, and entertaining in her home.
In all of Birdie’s years the word that comes to mind is perseverance as she went through her life, especially in her last 32 years. Hank, because of Alzheimer’s disease, was lost on his bike and died in Lynden, WA in 1990. She lost her son Loren to an accident in 1993, her daughter Susan to Cancer in 2006, and daughter-in-law Sandra Tiemeyer in 2007. Also, her grandsons Ryan Tiemeyer in 2015 and John Delaney in 2017 passed away at an early age. Throughout all these events she kept her eyes on the Lord and trusted in His strength. He carried her through the dark times as she believed in his providential hand on her life.
Birdie is survived by her brother, Bert Gritters of Portland, Oregon, her son Gordon Tiemeyer of Lynden, WA, and daughter Janis Pearson of Pasadena, CA. She was preceded in death by her sister Nancy Mulder. She had ten grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Whites Funeral Home in Bellflower on Wednesday June 29 from 4-8pm. Graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn (Cypress) at 1pm on Thursday June 30 with the funeral service at Rosewood Church in Bellflower at 3pm with Rev. James Ogle officiating. A light lunch will be served following the service for a time of fellowship.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitesmortuary.com for the Tiemeyer family.
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