Obituaries for Austin County, Texas
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Mollenkopf, Seija "Anitta" (Tanttu) (1962-2024)
Seija "Anitta" Tanttu was born April 14, 1962 in Finland to Vaito and Ulla Tanttu. She was raised on their dairy farm along with her older
brothers Heikki and Kari. She was baptized as a Lutheran Christian, and her faith grew during confirmation and youth group experiences.
Anitta started college at the University of Helsinki, studying theology. Then, she moved to Mexico in 1983 as an International Christian
Youth Exchange student. There she met her first husband Jimmie Poffenberger. They had five wonderful children together: Mille, Beth,
Lydia, Sara, and Sam. They mostly lived in Bellville, Texas. They all lived in Finland for the school year 1997-1998.
Anitta returned to the University of Helsinki and got a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a teaching minor in Spanish.
She had also taken some education courses at Prairie View A&M.
Teaching was a real passion for her. She had even home-schooled her girls when they were young. Anitta taught Spanish at Sealy, Columbus,
and Fayetteville high schools. She also taught briefly at Bellville HS and Faith Academy. Before teaching Spanish, she was a WIC bi-lingual
Infant Nutrition Peer Counselor.
Anitta was warm, humorous, kind, God-loving, strong, independent, and very hard-working. Her other passions and talents were singing,
gardening, wood-working, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, and sewing.
In 2003, she and her kids moved into a new home in South Creek Crossing. That same year, she met Jonathan Mollenkopf, the new music
director at St. John Lutheran Church. They married in 2006 at the St. John Retreat Center. There were many fun dinners and parties
with neighbors, friends, and family at the house in South Creek. Anitta welcomed anyone into her home. She loved having her kids' friends over,
whether it was youth from church or fellow students from school. She did not care about someone's skin color, language, financial situation,
or any other perceived barrier.
For 11 years, Anitta dealt with her Alzheimer's disease with faith, strength, and grace. Her family would like to express gratitude to her
many excellent caregivers over the years: the staff of AlzCare, Cuero Nursing Home, and Hospice of South Texas, caregivers Diana Torrez and
Margie McElhaney, and the many friends and family members who sat with her.
Anitta went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 5, 2024.
Anitta is preceded in death by her father Vaito Tanttu. She is survived by her mother Ulla Tanttu, brother Heikki (and wife Oili) Tanttu,
brother Kari (and special friend Tarja) Tanttu, nephew Tuomo (and wife Jenni) Tanttu, niece Maija Tanttu, great-nieces, husband Jonathan Mollenkopf,
daughter Mille (and husband Daniel) Bradley, daughter Beth, daughter Lydia, daughter Sara (and husband Santiago) Ruiz, son Samuel
(and wife Danielle) Poffenberger, and five grandchildren.
Tomlinson, Newton R. "Nate" (1832-1911)
Schulenburg Sticker 12 May 1911
After an illness of several weeks’ duration, Mr. Newton R. Tomlinson passed away Friday, May the 5th at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Arthur [Delia] Pennington. He did not seem to suffer but little and the only trouble he seem to have had during his illness was that it appeared difficult at times for him to breathe. His departure from this world was peaceful and without a struggle, as though he had fal [sic] asleep.
Mr. Tomlinson was born in Alabama March 1, 1832. Came to Texas January 1, 1876. The greater part of his life was spent at Wallis, Texas, where he reared an interesting family. He was married twice, both wives preceding him in death. A brother, Carney, of San Saba and a sister, Mrs. James Defee of Simonton; two daughters and three son [sic], Mrs. S. N. Allen of San Angelo, Mrs. A. Pennington of this city, Messrs. Madison and W. N. of Wallis, and L. C. of Abeline [sic]; twenty-six grand-children and four great-grand-children are left to mourn his demise.
He was a man who united sound sense with strong convictions, and a candid, outspoken temper, eminently fitted to mould the rude elements of pioneer society into form and consistency, and aid in raising a high standard of citizenship in the community in which he lived. How much his community owes him and such as he, it is impossible to estimate, though it would be a grateful task to trace his influence through some of the more direct channels, to hold him up in these degenerate days, in his various characters of husband and father, of neighbor and friend, to speak of the sons and daughters he has reared to perpetuate his name and emulate his virtues, but we cannot do so in this brief article.
His remains, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. A. Pennington and family, and Mrs. Allen and children, and Messrs. B. F. Johnson, B. F. Pennington, and Raymond Winfree, were conveyed to Wallis, where they, surrounded by loved ones and old time friends, were tenderly laid to rest Saturday the 6th in the Heartville cemetery, near his old home, Rev. John J. Ramsey of Yoakum officiating.
The Sticker joins the many friends, both in Schulenburg and Wallis, of the family, in extending sincere sympathy to the bereaved ones in their hour of sorrow.
Newton Tomlinson is buried at Hartsville Cemetery in Wallis, Austin County, Texas.
Contributed by Matt Cross
