Anita Marie (Gilliland) Breitzmann

Anita Marie Breitzmann (Gilliland), at the age of 80, passed away comfortably in her home on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.

Anita was born in Rochester, Indiana as the first child of Ardath and Herbert Gilliland. After she graduated high school, she moved to Alaska with her family where she met the love of her life, Rudolph Breitzmann, who was stationed there while in the United States Air Force. They were later married on the Elmendorf Air Force base in Alaska, and made their way to Circle Pines, Minnesota where they started their life together and had 4 wonderful children- Trudi, Julie, Heidi, and Skeeter. Over the years, they settled down in Zimmerman where they had a place for their 11 grandchildren to visit and grow and have Sunday-night pizza.

Anita, usually known as “Mutti”, had a love for cooking and baking for her family. Throughout her life, she had many careers, most important was being a wife and homemaker. Some of her other jobs were with Majestic Oaks Golf Course, Prudential, and Altron. She loved supporting her kids and grandkids at sporting events, concerts, and graduations, watching them grow every step of the way and always being proud of accomplishments, big or small. Another favorite pastime was traveling around with Rudy at the Minnesota Street Rod Association events. She met some of her closest friends at these events and always had the best stories to tell from their times together.

You could always find her sitting in her corner, usually scratching away at a scratch-off, cutting quilt squares, or playing her computer games. She would welcome you with a “Good Morning!”-no matter the time of day- and a handful of M&M’s or some candy, where she would tell you “Take two, they’re small!”.

Her death is preceded by her loving husband of 46 years, Rudy Breitzmann, parents Ardath and Herbert Gilliland, sister Rita Shriver, and grandson Alex Baer.

Anita is survived by her brother Rick (Theresa) Gilliland; her children, Trudi (Gregg) Baer, Julie (Dean) Dally, Heidi (Jim) Antinozzi, and Skeeter (Carrie) Breitzmann; as well as her grandchildren, Zack Baer (Amber Lynn), Tucker (Heather) Dally, Spike (Lexy) Dally, Spencer (Tayeler) Dally, Rachel (Chad) Thomas, Megan (Matt) Thimjon, Becky Antinozzi (Jon Rossbach), Sarah Antinozzi, Hannah Breitzmann, and Josie Breitzmann; and 12 great-grandchildren with 1 on the way; and many friends.

Celebration of Life will be at Dare’s Funeral Home, 805 Main Street NW, Elk River, MN on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 10:00 am, with visitation starting at 9:00 am.

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