Obituaries - Obituary - Tampico, Whiteside County, Illinois

TUSTIN, CA – Thera Ann Arling Ackeberg, 94, of Tustin, passed from her earthly life to her heavenly reward Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, at her place of residence in Tustin.

She was born Jan. 11, 1923, to Reuben and Grace Arling in Princeton. She married Howard Ackeberg on June 9, 1945. Until their retirement, they lived in the Tampico area, where Howard farmed and Thera taught kindergarten in Tampico for 30 years. After retirement, they moved to Mesa, Arizona. For the last 4 years of her life, Thera lived in a memory care home in Tustin.

Surviving are her children, Kenyon (Teresa) Ackeberg of Bossier City, Louisiana, and Connie (Stan) Endicott of Irvine, California; six grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Janice Burress of Princeton and Rachel Ringenberg of Washington, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service to celebrate Thera’s life will be held in early January in Mesa, Arizona.

Through the years, nothing brought her more joy than being with children. Dementia took away so much, but it never took away the joy she exhibited when children were around. Because of that, we ask that memorial gifts in her honor be made and sent online to pchhearteffect.com or to Heart Effect, 1535 W. Molly Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85085. This organization exists to make sure all children have a healthy heart and live full lives, including one of her great-grandchildren.