Anita Ethel (Shull) Kistler

Anita Ethel (Shull) Kistler, 95, of Colby, Kansas, passed away on December 15, 2024, at Prairie Senior Living Center in Colby, Kansas.

Anita, the third of five children born to Clarence Cecil Seymour Shull and Sylvia Samantha (Rogers) Shull, was born in Colby, Kansas on April 5, 1929. Anita’s siblings were Clarence Elmer Shull (deceased), Glenn Arthur Shull (deceased), Donald Deen Shull of Colby, and John Victor Shull (deceased).

On November 3, 1945, Ernest Kistler and Anita were married. Immediately following the wedding, they moved to Samuel and Sarah Kistler’s farm, Ernest’s birthplace. Three children, Harvey, Stephen, and Janet, were born into this union. Ernie was a farmer and rancher all his life. He and Anita lived on the farm for 48½ years. In 1994 they built Anita’s dream home and moved into Colby. Ernest remained active on the farm until his death, and Anita was his faithful farm wife until he passed in 2017. They were married for 72 years and supported each other through all life’s blessings and challenges.

Ernest and Anita were incredible parents and grandparents. They put in time and effort to build connections--attending school functions, creating memories, and enjoying special times with their family. Just as they helped their children learn about life, they were also there for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Anita attended Colby Public Schools. Growing up during the Great Depression and experiencing the Dirty Thirties in western Kansas taught Anita to appreciate and take care of everything she had. She was baptized on October 8, 1939, in the First Christian Church in Colby, Kansas, and she remained a member there for the rest of her life. Always willing to help, Anita was the perfect hostess. She graciously volunteered to hold birthday parties, graduation receptions, holidays, and showers in her lovely home. Anita lived out her faith in her neighborhood, family, and church. She volunteered for many activities at church--from helping with meals to preparing crafts for children to organizing church events. While she had always engaged in various crafting activities, Anita became an avid stamper in the 1990s. She spent hours creating beautiful cards with her friends and family. Her love of family was evident in her habit of preserving their history through photographs. Everyone loved to review her albums when they visited. She was welcoming, generous, selfless, and kind--fully committed to her family and continually looking for ways to serve and bless others. Anita loved being outdoors to care for and enjoy her trees and flowers; her amazing yard won the Colby Free Press Yard of the Year. Anita was a woman of great character whose life’s ambition was to make everyone she met feel important and loved. Anita was a blessing to everyone who knew her--especially her children and grandchildren.

Anita is survived by her brother Donald Shull of Colby, her children Harvey and Linda (Jones) Kistler, Stephen and Sally (Wade) Kistler, Carl and Janet (Kistler) Saddler, all of the Colby area. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Scott and Jenny (Saddler) Bjurstrom, Chase and Melany (Saddler) Sutton, Cory Kistler, Sandie Kistler, Harmony Kistler, Jordan and Karen (Saddler) Sullivan, Christopher and Megan (Unruh) Kistler, Jacob and Haley (Kistler) Rotenberger, Landee Kistler, Kayleigh Anne Kistler, Juliette Kistler, Tanna Kistler, and 11 great-grandchildren. She is survived by many other extended family members as well.

A memorial service for Anita will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Baalmann Mortuary in Colby. Lunch will follow for all attendees. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. that afternoon at the Summers Township Cemetery south of Colby. Memorials may be made to the Summers Township Cemetery, to help with upkeep, and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com