Annabel Walkup

Services for 96 year old Redding resident Annabel Walkup will be hedl Friday from noon unilt 8pm Friday at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. The family will be present from 5 until 7pm and also from 9:30am until 10:30am Saturday. The burial will be in the Redding Cemetery. Memorials are to the Redding United Methodist Church and Blockton Community Building. Memories may be shared at www.armstrongfh.com.

I was born, lived and died a sinner. My hope is to hear “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

I was born March 24, 1927 to John F. and Anna C. (Holms) Haidsiak in a farm home west of Athelstan, IA. I was the youngest of ten, seven girls and three boys. Three roles in life were already established as a daughter, sister and aunt to six-year-old Marvin and six-month-old Georgie. A role cherished and relished for the many nephews and nieces to come. But the later roles of wife, mother and grandmother were the epitome of my being.

Formal education began in the Hickenlooper country school then Maloy and Blockton Consolidated Schools. I graduated from Blockton High as the last accredited Normal Training student in 1944. Due to WWII, I was granted an emergency certificate and began teaching at seventeen. I taught four years in country schools and one year as Kindergarten and First Grade in Blockton. I furthered my education by attending summer sessions at NWSTC in Maryville, MO. Later I became a substitute teacher in Benton, Maloy, Redding and Diagonal.

Harold J. Walkup and I were married July 24, 1949 in the Blockton M.E. Church. The temperature soared and brothers on both sides impishly added a secret ingredient to the punch. It did not go undetected by my sister Helen, who poured it down the drain. Brothers alike lamented the loss and said she could have saved it.

We established our first home south of Blockton on the Ray Warden farm. Two years later we moved into Blockton and in 1955 we moved to the Redding Community; first to “Little Jim” Miller’s farm and in 1961 we bought an acreage from Howard Hiatt.

We rejoiced and were blessed with the births of our three sons, Michael Glenn, Dale Eugene and John David. Our family circle grew when Mike married Mary and Dale married Sharon. It expanded more with grandkids and great grands, all with more love.

I started working at an early age, leading the hay horse and water boy for family and neighbors, clerking in various stores, teaching, head cook at Redding school, telephone operator, waitress, cafe manager and caregiver. Many bonds of friendship were established, especially with my five Taylor girls and the extended Taylor clan.

I do not have any particular talents: sew on a button? get a safety pin; gardening? no green thumb; singing? a baby will go to sleep in self-defense; cooking? perhaps so-so but I always use extra seasonings of love and sharing. However, my lack of talents doesn’t deter my enjoying and appreciating that of others.

There were three things I was doing before I started to school (1) driving (true I was sitting on Dad’s lap) (2) playing cards – Dad and I against Frank and Wayne (guess who won?) and (3) reading – I was a self-taught reader. When I was telling this to my boys one asked “What about the other one?” Blankly I said, “What other one?” You know how you would go up to Uncle Wayne’s room, snitch one of his cigarettes, and run outside to hide and smoke it. I still do the first three.

There are three standards I like to adhere to. I. Believe and love our God and Savior. II. Always do to one’s best ability. III. Have at least one good laugh a day. More is better, especially if it is on oneself.

I dislike dirt and filth, double standard discrimination, apathy and verbal or physical abuse, especially to the very young or elderly.

I was baptized at ten years of age and became a member of Blockton M.E. Church later transferring to Redding M.E. Church. Later joining the American Legion Auxiliary, Redding Cemetery Board, Book Club and the Newcomers Pinochle Club (a member for 73 years, 1948-2021).

Proceeding me in death: husband Harold, son John David, grandson Justin. Parents John and Anna Haidsiak, siblings and spouses Helen (Charley) Hunter, Lucile (George) Hammer, Frank (Vivian) Haidsiak, Nina (Fae) Dukes; Wayne (Jean) Haidsiak, Hazel Haidsiak; Vera (Otis) Carson, Ethel Haidsiak, Max (Lois) Haidsiak and all of Harold’s immediate family.

Surviving sons: Mike (Mary), Dale (Sharon). Grandchildren: Joe Walkup, Jennifer (John) Walkup, Brandon Walkup, Amy (JP) Whittington, Ann (Darin) Schlapia, James (Sophie) Walkup. Great grands: Dylan Slater, Madison Walkup, Isabel Walkup, Janey Jo Nelson, Kelsey (Eli) Walkup, Alaina, Owen, Levi & Ava Whittington, Adrian & Andrew Schlapia. Great great grandkids: Lennon & August Hatch and Skye Hamilton. Sister-in-law Helen Walkup, two cousins Ruth Borcharding (Schaller, IA) and Ruby Turner (Hopkins, MO) and SCADS & SCADS of Haidsiak – Wall – Walkup nieces and nephews greats, great greats, great great greats and great great great greats.

 

Memorials are to the Redding United Methodist Church and Blockton Community Building.