Anna Christine Sipes

Anna was born in North Carolina, the first of four children born to Thurman and Anna Rose. Her family moved many times, following her father’s job as a doctor in the Public Health Service. Anna met and married the love of her life, Jasper Sipes, in San Francisco. They had three children and were married 66 years, until Jasper’s death in 2016.

Jasper and Anna lived in San Francisco until 1957, when they moved to Redwood City. In the mid 1960’s, they moved to Bethel Island where they owned and operated Sipes Electronics for decades.

Anna attended SF State until Jasper went to Korea. In the 1980’s, Anna took up her college studies once again. She took many courses at Los Medanos College and became an accomplished artist, winning a blue ribbon at the county fair for her watercolor painting of a Victorian home in old Antioch. She also took courses in computer science, earning a certificate, and later transferred to CSU Hayward, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies in 1992. Anna also volunteered for years as a docent at the John Muir home in Martinez and was a member of the Bethel Island Lioness Club and the Bethel Island Women’s Club. In addition, she and Jasper were members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for an astonishing 50-plus years.

Anna was a devoted wife and mother, always there for us with her gentle demeanor and bright intellect. She would only occasionally carve out time for herself at the end of a long day to watch Hawaii Five-0 or Police Woman, two of her favorite shows. Her optimism, wit and intelligence were three of her cardinal traits. Walking anywhere in the East Bay, she could expertly identify all manner of plants and birds with a smile.

After Jasper passed, Anna moved to an assisted living home. She slowly declined, but flashes of her optimistic self were regularly on display. She always smiled at her visitors. She was deeply kind, polite and optimistic to her core. Her son Daniel made sure she was taken care of, and other members of her family visited her faithfully for years.

Anna is survived by her children Paul, Daniel (Tamara) and Sara (Mark), her sister Martha, her two grandchildren Sophie and Maxwell, and several nieces and nephews. She will be interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, beside Jasper. A Memorial Service will be held at 1 pm, Friday, February 7, 2025. We will cherish our memories of her forever.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Gate Manor in Poway for their dedication and the tender care they provided to Anna.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the California Native Plant Society, www.cnps.org/give