Anne Adriana Wiseman

Anne Adriana Martynse Wiseman was born on Feb. 10, 1924, to Hendrik and Gerardina Martynse in Kettel, The Netherlands and died Dec. 9, 2014 in Walla Walla.

In 1925, the family immigrated to Canada where Anne and her four siblings were educated. Anne graduated in 1943, from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and in zoology.

For several years, she worked as a medical technologist in hospital and research facilities. In 1946, Anne moved to the United States of America. In 1947, she married Ralph Wiseman and in 1949, became an American citizen. In 1950, Ralph’s and Anne’s first daughter, Susan, was born and in 1954, their younger daughter, Anita, was born. In 1960, Anne entered graduate school at Memphis State University and received her master’s degree in 1962. That year, she started teaching chemistry to high school students on regular, honors and advanced placement levels. Her students did well in competitions, in state and national examinations and loved her even as they complained she made them work harder than any other teacher on the faculty. Often, groups of them would come to her home to serenade her with their drums and electric guitars.

Beginning in 1965, she conducted workshops on teaching on the advanced placement level to school officials and teachers in the thirteen southeastern United States in which she was a consultant of the Educational Testing Service. She received several awards including the prestigious James Bryant Conant Award from the American Chemical Society.

When her youngest grandchild was born with developmentally disabilities, Anne helped in her care, education and therapy. She described this experience in her book, Opening Doors, published in 2006. Throughout her entire life, Anne enjoyed reading books and learning new things.

Mourning her passing are her husband of 67 years, Ralph; her daughters, Susan Root, and Anita Logan; her grandchildren, Amy McLaughlin, Kip Retzer, and Kelly Logan; her great-grandchildren, Aiden Retzer, Emma McLaughlin, and Jack McLaughlin; her brother, Arthur Martynse; many nieces and nephews.

Graveside service will be 2 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2014, at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens on Myra Road. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kelly Logan Endowed Social Work Scholarship Fund through Walla Walla University, Office of University Advancement through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.