Anne Gunther

Anne (Zacharias) Gunther was born in the RM of Stuartburn, Manitoba on February 26, 1933. She grew up in the Tolstoi / Stuartburn area and went to school at the Bradley country school until she completed grade 8. After that her father found her work helping a family in Ste Elizabeth. At the age of 17 she went to Winnipeg to find work. Anne started working in a chocolate factory for the pre-Christmas season. Once that was over, she knew that going to the employment agency would only get her more factory work. She walked up and down Main St., Winnipeg applying for work. She was told at the Perth’s Dry Cleaning head office that the office position they had available needed a minimum of grade 12. She was hired on for a three day trial and quickly proved her abilities at the job. After that she knew that with her work ethic, there wasn’t much she couldn’t do. Over her many years in the work force Mom worked as an A & W car hop, admitting clerk and later nurse staffing secretary at the Victoria Hospital, in the office of Zellers in Winnipeg, managing the Eatons catalogue office in Steinbach, selling real estate. She worked at Marshall Wells in Steinbach for many years. As well she drove handy van for Al Broesky picking up clients and bringing them to Steinbach Kindale.

In 1954 she married Dave Kroeger. Cheryl was born in 1958 and another daughter Donna Lynn was born in November 1961. Donna Lynn had many medical issues and passed away in February 1962. This was one of the times that she felt closest to her God, she knew that he held her up during this time. Later, in 1963, Dave and Anne separated. In 1971 son Jim was born, expanding the family to three. Living in Winnipeg until 1975 when Anne got a job in Steinbach and moved her family there.

In October of 1981 Anne married Jim Gunther. Anne and young Jim moved to Winnipeg for a short time, then back to Steinbach. Back in Steinbach Anne worked driving handy van. This was more than a job to Anne, it was a calling, she had so many wonderful stories about the friends she transported from their homes to work at Kindale in Steinbach. She loved working with her clients, making friends with them and learning about who they were. She was also very involved in their church and in the Bethesda Hospital Auxilliary.

In 1997 Jim SR and Anne moved to Lethbridge, AB. Here Mom got involved in the church and community. She continued with driving a van for the Lethbridge Senior Center, this time driving seniors to various destinations. In 2004, after Dad passed away, she continued to live in Lethbridge until 2010 when she decided to move back to Steinbach to be closer to her grandchildren and then great-grandchildren. She lived in a side by side for a few years and then in 2016 made the decision to live in Bridgepark Manor, where she was until she passed. One thing about Anne, she couldn’t sit still very long. Until she moved to Bridgepark she had never lived in any one spot for more than seven years. This changed at the end, she lived at Bridgepark for almost ten years. Even here, after about five years, she was wondering where she could go next.

Throughout her life Mom held her faith in God close to her. She told the stories about when life was the hardest and God was the closest. One of her favorite poems was Footsteps in the Sand. She said that she could definitely look back and see only one set of footprints behind her, God’s. In the months before she passed as we saw that her life was changing and she had more days of not feeling well she also reaffirmed many times that she was waiting to be called home. She would pray telling God that she was ready to go but if that wasn’t the plan she was willing to stay here because God’s strength would hold her up, she always left it in God’s hands.

Anne was predeceased by her daughter Donna Lynn, parents Aaron and Sarah Zacharias, husband Jim Gunther, one sister, Julia and two brothers, Henry and Bill. She will be missed by her daughter Cheryl (Brian) and son Jim. As well as Jim SR’s children Gord (Roberta), Tim (Betty) and Jennifer. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren Laura and Kyle (Andrew, Daniel, Carys and Jenna); Heather and Stacey (Caleb and Briseis); Kevin (Everett); Kim and Julien (Naomi and Selena); Tyler; Nicole and Taylor (Harlynn); Ashley; Chandra and Blaine (Khloe and Chase); Natalie and Eric (Kaylee, Maveric and Bellamy); Colin; Megan. Two sisters Barbara and Sandra and two sisters-in-law Helene and Mary and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Anne was brought to St. Pierre Hospital on July 16, 2026 where she peacefully and so very quietly passed from this world into the arms of her Savior Jesus early in the morning on July 17. She will be greatly missed but we know that Mom is in a better place where she can once again hug her daughter and be reunited with those who went before her. We love you Mom.

We would like to thank the wonderful people at Bridgepark Manor who brought her her meals, and those who thoughtfully stopped by just to say hi, how are you doing today Anne. We would also like to thank the Palliative nurses who took care of her end of life needs. Thank you to the nurses and doctor at St. Pierre Hospital who made her last hours as calm and peaceful as possible. And for the very last, we thank Crossings Funeral Care for the respectful and caring way they looked after her earthly remains. But most and above all, we thank God for keeping Mom in His wonderful arms for all of her 93 years.

The Celebration of Life for Anne (Zacharias) Gunther will take place Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 11:00 am. The service will be held at Crossings Funeral Care located at 12E-40 North Gate Drive, Steinbach, Manitoba. For those unable to attend, the family invites you to join them via livestream.