Services for Anita J. Saunders, 94, of Dixon will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at Faith Community Church in Laurel. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. Burial will be in the Concord Cemetery.
She passed away with her family by her side Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026 at her home in Dixon.
Memorials may be directed to Anita’s family for later designation.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Anita June Saunders was born Sept. 21, 1932 on a farm north of Maskell to Stanley Alton and Faye Lenora (Heikes) Mitchell. Her family later moved to a farm near Obert where she graduated from high school in 1950 as the class valedictorian. After attending summer classes at Wayne State Teachers College, Anita began teaching in Cedar County Country School at the age of 17. She continued attending summer school over the years and was a teacher in northeast Nebraska for eight years.
Anita married Lowell LaVern Saunders June 2, 1957 at her family farm home south of Laurel. The couple lived in Dixon. She was the Dixon Village Clerk for 27 years and then worked four years for a Community Action Council. For the next 14 years, Anita was a respite caregiver through the Area Agency on Aging. She loved flower gardening, house plants and reading. Baking goodies for her grandsons was a favorite activity.
Anita’s family includes her son and daughter-in-law, Curt and Renee Saunders of Laurel; three grandchildren and their families, Brian (Sara) Saunders, (Waylon and Stevi) of Tampa, Florida, Johnathan “Johnny” Mitchell (Alex) Saunders, (Cash, Jet, and Reggie) of Papillion and Justin (girlfriend Brooke) Saunders of Omaha; and sister-in-law, Leita (Ben) Whitlock; nieces and nephews and her dear and special friend and caregiver, Kim Nelson.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Faye Mitchell; husband, Lowell in 1982; son, Brad in 1985; and in-laws, James and Mabel (Backman) Saunders.
