Anna passed away suddenly at her home on July 22, 2026. She was born on November 8, 1945, at Pioneer Hospital in Escalon, CA, to Harry and Minnie Potthoff, while her dad was in the Army Air Corps. Her parents bought their home in Oakdale when Anna was 3 years old. She attended Oakdale Union Elementary School which was next door and then Oakdale High School where she graduated in 1963. She married Jasper Gonzales in July 1963 and they lived on the Orvis Ranch in north Stanislaus County where Jasper was working. Shelly was born in July 1964. Jimmy was born in October 1967 in Molalla, Oregon where Jasper had gone to work.
After high school, she went to Adrians Beauty College to be a hairdresser and used her sisters to practice hair coloring and styling. She also attended Modesto Junior College to study business and graduated in 1965. In 1981, she went to work as a secretary for the City of Modesto where she met her second husband John Christiansen. She worked there until early 1991 and then went to work for Steves Chevrolet in Oakdale in 1991 until she retired. As a child, she learned to paint at Dorada Park from May Laughlin after spending days at the Plunge swimming with her sisters and brother. She developed a lifetime love for painting, pottery and jewelry making. She was a member of the Mother Lode Mineral Society for many years. She and John would take their motorhome to Quartzite, Arizona every year to be rock hounds and spend time with friends. She enjoyed going to car races her entire life and watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren in any sports they played. She was Grammy to them.
She is survived by her daughter Shelly Norwood (Danny), her son Lucas “Jimmy” Gonzales and stepson Eric Christiansen (Tingting). Grandchildren Jason Norwood (Jessicca), Joey Norwood (Janine) Lingyu Zhang, Michael John Christiansen, Ashley Wennberg (Brad) and Greg Peterson. Great grandchildren Rylan, Jack, Joseph, Paisley, Deilah, Hayden and Landon. Sister Karen Valenzuela (Loren) and brother Jim Potthoff (Patricia). Nieces Jennifer Bonzi (Donald), Rachael Edwards (Tommy), Laura Estrella (David). Jaime Parke (Blake) and Christina Valenzuela. Nephews Robert Isaia (Jessica), Matthew Valenzuela (Linda) and Andy Potthoff.
Her parents Harry and Minnie Potthoff preceded her in death along with her husband John, daughter-in-law Marie Gonzales, grandson Zach Peterson, and her sister Rosemary Popp.
A celebration of life will be held at the Oakdale Sportsmen’s Club at 3 p.m. on her birthday; November 8, 2026. The family would appreciate donations in her memory to Astro Foundation in Oakdale or St. Jude.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Sept. 23, 2026
