Anita Marie Landenberger 1940-2026

Practical, competent and loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, sportswoman, teacher and early-adopter of technology, Anita Landenberger, 86, of Dallas, Texas, died of natural causes on April 11, 2026.

She was born in Wendelin, Illinois in her grandmother Josie Fehrenbacher's farmhouse to Marjorie and Gilbert Fehrenbacher. Her mother Marge lived with Grandma Josie while her father Gib was serving in the U.S. Army. Anita attended St. Joseph elementary school and East Richland High School in Olney, Illinois. Known as a good student and hard worker, she attended Indiana State University and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in four years. She enjoyed a life-long career in teaching all ages and was especially drawn to high school and college students. As an educator with the Dallas County Community College District, Anita was an award-winning teacher of the year and pioneer, introducing the emerging technology of Microsoft Excel and Word applications to hundreds of students.

Anita met her husband Dick Landenberger when they were children and neighbors in Olney, Illinois. Living close enough to see each other's homes, in their teen years they used colored paper in their windows as private messages to each other. During a winter break in their college classes, they were married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olney, Illinois in 1961. They celebrated 65 years of happiness together, raising their family and sharing their mutual love of tennis through years of mixed doubles play, lessons, and cheering each other's accomplishments .

Anita and Dick had three daughters, and Anita served in PTAs, church committees, as a Sunday School teacher and Girl Scout Leader to support her daughters' activities and learning. She was "Team Mom" and carpool organizer for years, and never failed to attend her children's sporting events, band concerts, church, scouting and other special events. Happy memories of learning to play tennis, learning to sew, crochet, cook, garden, how to serve our neighbors and church, and in general, how to lead a productive and successful life will stay with her girls forever.

Anita loved her grandchildren, and enjoyed teaching them their alphabet, reading to them, playing backyard games, and excelled at keeping up with five busy little ones. A favorite memory is of her seated in the back seat of a minivan, in between car seats, and entertaining her grandchildren with endless patience and creativity on long family trips. She was a regular fan at her grandchildren's football, soccer, basketball, and volleyball games. The laughter and joy her three great-grandchildren have recently brought to her life has been a blessing.

Visor and fanny pack securely fastened, Anita was a ready and eager participant in all family activities. Attending the Texas State Fair every year with her family in tow, she was true to her heritage by ending the day with a German sausage. At her daughter Beth's suggestion, she and husband Dick started memorable family reunions at the YMCA of the Rockies at Estes Park, Colorado. As her family grew, they enjoyed 12 visits over the years, with the daughters now continuing the tradition. A special memory is Anita celebrating her 76th year, fearlessly riding the zip line over a mountain canyon.

A talented tennis player, Anita entered tournaments and competed in league play through the Dallas Tennis Association for over 40 years. She was instrumental in the growth of the Tennis Competitors of Dallas league, started in 1977 to promote women's tennis in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She enjoyed dozens of road trips to out-of-town tournaments with her many tennis friends. Accompanying her husband on his tennis tournament trips and month-long visit to Palm Springs, California were events that Anita anticipated and managed to work in some tennis games of her own.

A defining character trait of Anita was Service. She found joy and satisfaction in serving the many groups, personal and professional, of which she was a member. Church committees at Mary Immaculate Church in Farmers Branch, weekly Bible Study with friends from St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, Girl Scouts, PTA groups, her beloved DTA and TCD tennis leagues, Dallas College Retiree Association and the Rhea Crane Book Club were just a few. She served the Dallas Ski Club for over 20 years as their Administrator, a part time job she was proud to manage and devoted many hours to as a "retiree". She was depended upon by her aging mother, Marjorie Fehrenbacher Spitz, and her mother-in-law Gertrude Landenberger, as each moved to Dallas, Texas in their final years. Neighbors and friends knew they could always call on Anita to fix their email or connect their computer and printer, favors she happily performed.

Anita will be remembered for her work ethic, her willingness to lead and support the causes important to her, and her loving attention to her family, friends and neighbors. We miss her dearly and carry her legacy of thoughtful service to others as an example of a well-lived life.

Anita is preceded in death by her parents Marjorie and Gilbert Fehrenbacher, and stepfather Gilbert Spitz. She is survived by husband Dick Landenberger, daughter Christina, husband John, grandchildren Joey and Katie; daughter Beth, husband Bill, grandson Kerry, wife Jacki, and grandson Kelly; and daughter Ellen, husband Gary, grandson Jackson, wife Kailey, great-grandson Hudson, grandson Jake, wife Morgan, great-grandchildren Charlotte and Graham and granddaughter Emma and husband Connor, and her brother Jim Fehrenbacher and wife Jill.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Homewell Care Services, Avalon Memory Care and Allstar Hospice for the loving care and compassion they provided Anita.

A visitation for family and friends will be held in Farmers Branch on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10:30 am at North Dallas Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held later in Olney, Illinois.