Anita Kathleen Trachta

Anita Kathleen Trachta died January 19, 2022 in San Diego, California after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. Anita was born December 13, 1940 to parents Edwin Frank Trachta and Blanche Delores Trachta, née Hanus, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Anita had an amazing life, with numerous successful work endeavors. She enjoyed worldwide travels and experiences with her adventurous spirit.

A member of the first graduating class of Prairie High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1959, she went on to attend Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics in 1963. In later years, she continued her education and obtained a Master of Education from Colorado State University.

Anita was very ambitious. Although hard work was her hobby, she found time to enjoy life. She had a long career teaching home economics and science in the Denver Public Schools in Denver, Colorado. Along the way, she became a real estate agent and owned her own property management company in Denver. She also owned and operated a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream store in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in the late 1970s.

After retiring from her teaching career, Anita moved to the Henderson, Nevada area. She maintained her real estate license and always held at least one part-time job. While in Henderson, she began taking ballroom dancing lessons and she later participated in ballroom dancing competitions.

Anita had lived in Riverside, California for a short time immediately after college and always vowed to return to southern California, which she did in 2012. She loved living in San Diego area and said she felt like she was always on vacation, with the amazing weather and nearby beaches.

Anita loved animals especially her cats, Mickey and Minnie. She carried out her love of animals through her 8 1/2 years of volunteering at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park where she gave over 1300 hours of service, which continued through late 2021.

Adventure was Anita’s middle name! She loved to travel and explore new places and activities. She traveled the world, with some of her favorite places being Africa, South America, Greece, Mexico, Hawaii, and Tahiti.

She is survived by her brother, Marvin Trachta (Karen) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, her sister, Jeanne Trachta of Council Bluffs, Iowa, two nieces, Paula Peters (Jeff) of Bettendorf, Iowa and Heather Sobotta (Tom) of West Linn, Oregon, grandniece Addison Sobotta and grandnephew Lucas Sobotta, both of West Linn, Oregon. Mickey and Minnie are now living in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Memorials in Anita’s honor may be made to San Diego Animal Shelter | Helen Woodward Animal Center , San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | Home page, or an animal rescue organization of choice.

Graveside service and burial April 30, 2022 at the Czech National Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Brosh Chapel and the Avacentre handling arrangements.