Anneka van Doorninck died peacefully at the age of 90 on Dec. 18, 2021, at the Tacoma home of her daughter, Kitty-Ann and son-in-law John, with her beloved dog, Dobbie, at her side.
Proud to call herself an American citizen, Anneka was born in the Netherlands, immigrating to Seattle, via Canada, in 1957 with her husband, Wolter and young son, Wolter Jr. In addition to raising her family, which soon included daughter Kitty-Ann, Anneka was actively engaged in social justice issues, and she and Wolter continued that work as long as they were able.
Always involved in whatever community she was in, be it Bellevue, Iron Springs or Grays Harbor County, Anneka donated tremendous amounts of time, energy and money, tirelessly dedicated to human and animal rights. Among the many causes she supported were the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Ocean Shores Library, the North Beach Historical Society, The Grays Harbor Institute/KGHI radio station and the local humane society. She worked on many political campaigns. She also was elected and served as precinct chairperson in Bellevue for many years (holding caucus meetings in their home) and then in Copalis Beach. She was honored to be named Grays Harbor Democrat of the Year.
She loved books, and after working as the founding manager of Hunter’s Books in Bellevue’s Crossroads Shopping Center, Anneka went on to work as the bookstore manager for Planned Parenthood in Seattle. In 1995, she and Wolter moved from their longtime home in Bellevue to the “cabin” that Wolter and family and friends began building in 1975. After Wolter retired from Boeing, they lived there together until Wolter’s health issues became too challenging and at 94 he moved into an Adult Family Home in Tacoma in January 2020. Living alone, she continued walking the beach with Dobbie and supporting the Iron Springs Community. Even in her last weeks, she was committed to acknowledging her friends and her favorite organizations.
Anneka remains an inspiration to generations of family, friends and co-workers in her ever-present kindness, generosity and love of nature. She is survived by Wolter, her husband of 66 years; son Wolter Jr. (Barbara), daughter Kitty-Ann (John Van Buskirk) and her beloved grandchildren: Courtney Clark (Jeff), Taylor, Adam Van Buskirk (Jessie McMillan) and Jacob Van Buskirk (Annie Naranjo-Rivera) and three great-grandchildren. In her honor, please send donations to Ocean Shores Friends of the Library, PO Box 852, Ocean Shores, WA 98569.
