Anita Elanore Halbach

1921 - 2024

Another member of "America's Greatest Generation" passed into history when Anita Elanore (Ramsey) Halbach of Tucson, AZ died peacefully surrounded by her family on January 12, 2024 at the age of 102.

She was born on March 9, 1921 in Fort Atkinson, WI and was the daughter of Glenn and Mary (Umland) Ramsey where she grew up on the family's small dairy farm. Anita attended Joeville School, a one-room school which were common in rural Jefferson County back in those days, and Fort Atkinson High School where she graduated in 1938.

Anita followed in the footsteps of her sister, Marie Ramsey Linxwiler, to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the nursing profession. She graduated with her nursing certificate in 1942 and began working in Madison as a private-duty nurse. On May 9, 1942, she married Eugene Halbach, who attended UW as well. Eugene was the oldest son from a dairy farm family, and once World War II broke out, he returned home to the farm as an essential worker in the war effort. They both moved to Waterford, WI, and Anita commuted by bus to Milwaukee, WI to work at St. Mary's Hospital. She continued her nursing career until she started her greatest life endeavor - being a full-time mother to seven children. Even though her nursing career was short-lived, the skills she learned as a nurse were incredibly helpful in raising her children and supporting her husband's work as a dairy farmer. UW-Madison always held a special place in Anita's heart - not only for her nursing education, but for the health care professionals she learned from and worked alongside at University Hospital. This connection was so strong that Anita gave birth to most of her children at the hospital.

She followed Eugene to career stops in Watertown, WI; Bristol, WI; and Marana AZ where he managed registered Holstein herds. One constant was their side business of raising exhibition poultry. Anita served as the production manager (without the title), that included feeding and watering the birds daily well into her 70's. She also operated a "pick your own" pecan business when they lived in Marana.

In her senior years, Anita traveled extensively with stamps from Canada, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Russia, Spain, and Sweden in her passport. She was also an avid college sports fan, holding season tickets to both the University of Arizona's football and men's basketball games. She loved dogs, especially the Maltese breed, with Ginger, Rhoda, Luke and Buddy being some of her favorite companions.

Her family will remember her for being a supportive mother who was proud of her children's accomplishments, a good listener, and a loving and compassionate grandmother.

Anita is survived by her daughters, Dianne Gossman, Yuma, AZ; Judy (Reggie) Guy, Estes Park, CO; Mary Halbach, Tucson, AZ; and sons Kenneth (Susan) Halbach, Tucson, AZ, Ronald (Natalie) Halbach, Phoenix, AZ; Gerald (Connie) Halbach, Tucson, AZ; and Theodore (Sandra) Halbach, Madison, WI; as well as 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Eugene J., infant son Robert, a brother, Paul Ramsey and three sisters, Lucille Ramsey, Marie Linxwiler, and Luella Willitz.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Anita E. Halbach Nursing Scholarship (112640063) established at the UW-Madison School of Nursing in her honor. Gifts can be made online at supportuw.org/giveto/halbachmemorial or by check payable to "UW Foundation" with a memo "Halbach Scholarship-112640063". For online condolences visit www.carrillostucsonmortuary.com.