Wednesday, April 4, 2018 ~ 10:30 a.m.
Ashland Cemetery ~ Ashland, Nebraska
Anna T. Weaver, 93 of Ashland, NE passed away, Thursday, March 29, 2018 at South Lake Village in Lincoln, NE. She was born February 8, 1925 in Craig, IA to Johann & Maria (Gerdes) Groenjes. She attended Craig Public School in Craig, IA. On April 5, 1947 Anna was united in marriage to William R. Weaver in Ashland.
Anna went to work as a dishwasher at the Gateway Inn formerly on Hwy 6 when she was 18 years old. She spent many years cooking there before taking over as the owner in 1970. She was known to have the best home cooked meals in the area, especially her fried chicken. In the summer of 2005, Gateway Inn’s final dinner service for the chicken fried steak special had local patrons coming in droves for one final meal. On August 20, 2005 an auction was held; Anna’s official retirement day after more than 60 years of service.
She was a 69 year member of the American Legion Post #129 Auxiliary and a member of Word of Hope Lutheran Church in Ashland.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susie Weaver of Waverly, NE; grandchildren, Michele (Scott) Walker of Minneapolis, MN, Michael (Stephanie) Weaver of Omaha, NE; great-grandchildren, Lily & Greyson Weaver of Omaha; siblings, Marian Barnes of Ashland, NE, Gertrude Remmers of Lincoln, NE, Christine Tillman of Ashland, NE, JoAnn (Harold) Horton of Bluejacket, OK, Robert (Lynn) Groenjes of Omaha, NE.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Weaver, son, Dennis Weaver; sisters, Lena and Betty Lou; brothers, Johann Jr. and Gerhard; parents, Johann and Maria
she will be missed
I am so sorry for Annie’s family. Many lovely and delicious times were spent at the cafe. My sons were so fond of the hamburger steak with melted cheese. May Annie be at peace with Denny and Bill now. All my love to Susie and Annie’s sisters.
Every chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes I will ever eat will forever pale in comparison to Annie’s! It’s easy to picture her peaking out over the swinging doors to the kitchen to see who just rang the bell coming into the Gateway. She was a wonderful soul, with a contagious laugh and a dollar in her pocket for my daughter every visit. Well done, good and faithful servant.
I had a lot of meals at the Gateway Inn. They were all great. I ground a lot of hamburger for her and delivered it and other supplies to Gateway Inn when I worked at Carl’s IGA when I was in High School.The Hamburger Steak was my favorite.She always had a smile.She will be missed by all.
I used to live right down the highway from The Gateway Inn, in the old Dennis Dean house. As a child in the early 90’s, my grandparents would take me and my mom there all the time. I still remember that Anne kept the children’s game Perfection in the corner. Playing that game and eating her fried chicken with my grandparents is one of my oldest, fondest memories. Thank you to Anne for helping to create it. May her spirit and good will live on.