Anna Marie Peterson

Anna Marie Peterson, 88, of Wayland, died Monday, May 12, 2025, at Parkview Home in Wayland.

Anna Marie was born October 30, 1936, in Wayland, Iowa, the daughter of Kenneth and Ina (Boshart) Peterson. She spent her early years in the Mt. Union and Olds, Iowa area, graduating from Olds High School in 1954. Anna Marie attended Iowa Wesleyan College, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa for two years. In 1961, she graduated from Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas with a BS in Education. While at Bethel she spent one semester as an exchange student at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She also earned a Master of Arts and Educational Specialist Degree at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Anna Marie’s teaching career took her to various places: Danville, Iowa; Shawnee, Kansas; Spelman College Nursery School, Atlanta, Georgia; Forest Park, Georgia; Job Corps Center for Men, Morganfield, Kentucky; Job Corps Center for Women, Excelsior Springs, Missouri; and Kansas City Public School System, Kansas City, Missouri. She retired in 1999 from the Kansas City Public School System after 31 years of teaching in Kansas City high schools and middle schools.

Anna Marie was an active member of the Kansas City Federation of Teachers, Local 691 and served several years on the executive board. Anna Marie was an active member of the Rainbow Mennonite Church in Kansas City, Kansas where she served on various committees. After returning to Iowa, she was a member of the Wayland Mennonite Church. In 2019, Anna Marie received the Wall of Honor achievement from WACO School.

Those who knew Anna Marie, knew her by her generous and kind yet fiery and fighting spirit. She had an influence on the lives of many of her students, and her nieces and nephews. Anna Marie’s teaching went well beyond the classroom and her retirement. Political activism was very important to Anna Marie, especially during the Civil Rights Movement. She led a life of service and commitment to peace and social justice issues.

Anna Marie is survived by her brother Carroll (Cindy) Peterson of Pella; two sisters-in-law Janet (Duane) Peterson of Wayland, Janice (John) Peterson of Burlington; seven nieces and nephews Kirsten Peterson of Washington, D.C., Karrie Peterson of Washington, D.C., Shari Janecek of Wayland, Stacy Peterson of Crawfordsville, Ron Peterson of Burlington, Cindy Mueller of Muscatine, and Matt Peterson of O’Fallon, Missouri, and numerous grand-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers John Peterson and Duane Peterson.

Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Wayland Mennonite Church, with pastor Michael Swartzendruber officiating. Burial will follow in the North Hill Cemetery, rural Wayland. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Mennonite Central Committee and Parkview Home, Wayland. The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Anna Marie and her family.