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Seija Anitta Tanttu, wife of the Rev. Jonathan Mollenkopf, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Nordheim, TX, was born April 14, 1962 in Finland to Vaito and Ulla Tanttu. She was raised on their dairy farm along with her older brothers Heikki and Kari. She was baptized as a Lutheran Christian, and her faith grew during confirmation and youth group experiences. Anitta started college at the University of Helsinki, studying theology. Then, she moved to Mexico in 1983 as an International Christian Youth Exchange student. There she met her first husband Jimmie Poffenberger. They had five wonderful children together: Mille, Beth, Lydia, Sara, and Sam. They mostly lived in Bellville, Texas. They all lived in Finland for the school year 1997-1998. Anitta returned to the University of Helsinki and got a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a teaching minor in Spanish. She had also taken some education courses at Prairie View A&M.
Teaching was a real passion for her. She had even home-schooled her girls when they were young. Anitta taught Spanish at Sealy, Columbus, and Fayetteville high schools. She also taught briefly at Bellville HS and Faith Academy. Before teaching Spanish, she was a WIC bi-lingual Infant Nutrition Peer Counselor.
Anitta was warm, humorous, kind, God-loving, strong, independent, and very hard-working. Her other passions and talents were singing, gardening, wood-working, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, and sewing.
In 2003, she and her kids moved into a new home in South Creek Crossing. That same year, she met Jonathan Mollenkopf, the new music director at St. John Lutheran Church. They married in 2006 at the St. John Retreat Center. There were many fun dinners and parties with neighbors, friends, and family at the house in South Creek. Anitta welcomed any one into her home. She loved having her kids’ friends over, whether it was youth from church or fellow students from school. She did not care about someone’s skin color, language, financial situation, or any other perceived barrier.
For 11 years, Anitta dealt with her Alzheimer’s disease with faith, strength, and grace. Her family would like to express gratitude to her many excellent caregivers over the years: the staff of AlzCare, Cuero Nursing Home, and Hospice of South Texas, caregivers Diana Torrez and Margie McElhaney, and the many friends and family members who sat with her.
Anitta went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 5, 2024.
Anitta is preceded in death by her father Vaito Tanttu. She is survived by her mother Ulla Tanttu, brother Heikki (and wife Oili) Tanttu, brother Kari (and special friend Tarja) Tanttu, nephew Tuomo (and wife Jenni) Tanttu, niece Maija Tanttu, great-nieces, husband Jonathan Mollenkopf, daughter Mille (and husband Daniel) Bradley, daughter Beth and family, daughter Lydia and family, daughter Sara (and husband Santiago) Ruiz, son Samuel (and wife Danielle) Poffenberger, and five grandchildren.
We remember Anitta's family and friends in our prayers and trust that the promise of the Resurrection is true and sure.
In Christ,
Bishop Sue Briner
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