Anita R. (McInteer) Van Pelt was born in Manhattan, Kan., on Nov. 4,1936, the daughter of W.R. McInteer and Florence Bell (Cragg) McInteer. She passed away after a long illness on Dec. 26, 2019 at her home in Oberlin.
Anita grew up in Manhattan, where she attended school and also at Westmoreland. She always thought of Manhattan as her home even though due to health problems had lived near her daughter in Oberlin for several years.
She treasured all of her family and her many friends around the Manhattan area that were an important part of her life. She was always a hard worker and worked as a bookkeeper for Big A Auto for several years, managed a couple of restaurants and worked at McCall Pattern Company in Manhattan up until she retired.
Anita loved spending time with her family, working crossword puzzles and watching sci-fi movies. She was an avid reader and had a hard time putting a good book down, sometimes reading for hours. Anita was a loving, devoted mother to her children Randy and Terry, not a day went by that she didn't tell them how much she loved them.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents, W.R. McInteer and Florence McInteer; sisters, Dora Jean Mills and Frances Vollowich; and her brothers, Eldon, Burt, Richard and Allen McInteer.
Survivors include her son, Randy Van Pelt, Hutchinson; daughter Terry Berry and husband, Cary of Oberlin; grandchildren, Heather, Wendy and Levi; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Anita's family want to express sincere gratitude to the Good Samaritan Society for the wonderful care provided to her over the years. Also, to the nurses and all of the staff at Decatur Health Systems for their kindness and care of Anita while she was there. A special thank you to her kind and loved friend, Mary, that helped take care of Anita and was such a comfort for her. A special thank you to her wonderful neighbor, Ann, who also was a caring friend to Anita.
Family and friends are invited to join a celebration of Anita's life at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 at Wamego United Methodist Church in Wamego. A luncheon will follow the service.
The family suggests memorials to the Anita R. Van Pelt Memorial Fund. Memorials may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave., Oberlin, KS 67749.
Words of comfort may be left at paulsfh.com.
A Mother is an angel God sent so we would know how very much He loved us in the best way He could show.