The world lost a joyful voice on December 17, 2010, when Anna Lou Aberle passed away at the Presbyterian Village in Ft. Scott, KS. Anna Lou was born October 21, 1919, at Gridley, KS, the daughter of Henry and Lydia (Ott) Bahr. Her parents provided a loving family where she grew up with her sister, Wilma, and four brothers, Arnold, George, Roy, and Jim, in Gridley. After graduation from Gridley High School, she attended Strickland's Business College in Topeka. True to her nurturing spirit, upon graduation from Strickland, Anna Lou returned to the family home to help her father care for her ailing mother and younger brothers. In 1942 she and Lewis Mattix were married and to this union a cherished son, Mark Eric Mattix was born. Mark attended school in Chanute, KS, where Anna Lou was the first director of the Safari Museum, serving from 1961 to 1973. Her husband, Lewis, preceded her in death in 1977. Following Mark's college graduation Anna Lou and Mark moved to Overland Park, KS, where she continued sharing her knowledge of Africa and the Martin and Osa Johnson story at the Africa Shop at Crown Center. However, the highlight of her career was planning and being the tour leader of five trips to the Holy Land with her family and friends, featuring places where Jesus walked. In 1987 Anna Lou and Ben Aberle were married and they established residences in Sabetha, KS, and Sarasota, FL, until his death in 1990. On January 31, 2009, Anna Lou suffered the loss of her only child, Mark Mattix. Anna Lou loved and attended the Apostolic Christian Church all her life. She was a charter member of the Kansas City Apostolic Christian Church where she worshipped until moving to the Presbyterian Village in Ft. Scott in February of 2009. She was also preceded by two brothers, Arnold and George Bahr, and a sister, Wilma Farney. She leaves two brothers, Roy Bahr, Morton, IL. and James Bahr, Ft. Scott, in addition to a host of nieces and nephews and several cousins. Services will be held 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at the Kansas City Apostolic Christian Church, 301 W. Blueridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO. The family will meet with friends from 9:30 A.M. until service time at the church. Graveside services will be held 2:30 P.M. Wednesday at the Apostolic Christian Cemetery at Lamont, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home PO Box 277 Burlington, KS 66839.
Published in Kansas City Star on December 19, 2010