Annette Lou Eldridge

Annette Lou Eldridge

Annette was born November 7, 1939 in Joliet, Illinois to James and Luella (Bettenhausen) Fleming.  Annette passed away September 14, 2015 in Larkspur, Colorado.

Annette Fleming has 3 biological children, Jeffrey, Laurel and David through her marriage to Gale Lehnus.When she married Robert Eldridge, he had 6 children. His 2 boys, Guy and Gill lived with the couple. His girls, Melanie, Dawn, Stacey, and Veronica came and left the household throughout the years.

Annette’s Story

Born to James and Luella Fleming on 11/7/39 in Joliet, Illinois

Sister to Jerry Fleming 

Graduated from Herscher High School in Herscher, Illinois 1957

She earned a ribbon at the Illinois High School Association for Vocal Superior.

She attended North Central College in Naperville, Ill. Her course of study was Elementary Education. She was one semester short of completing her student teaching in 1966 due to her pregnancy with Laurel. She worked to earn her money for college by cleaning and babysitting.

Her skills and education did not go unused.

Married Gale F. Lehnus September 17, 1959

Mother to Jeff, Laurel and David with Gale

Divorced in 1971.

Married Robert 11/2/73.

They decided to move to Colorado by folding the east and west coast areas of the map and after turning 3 times, Robert placed his finger on the map.

His biological children-Guy and Gill joined the family.

Melanie, Dawn, Stacey and Veronica were in and out of Colorado as was Jeff.

Her favorite color was blue as were her eyes.

Activities she enjoyed included singing in a high soprano tone around the house, and enjoying music as expressed through watching musicals and the Lawrence Welk Show.

She attempted to teach us all how to play the organ, however, David was the only one to succeed in instrumental music. Jeff did play trombone for a while and Laurel participated in school musicals and choir.

She would have us all do crafts for the grandparents for Christmas. She earned ribbons for her outside Christmas decorations in 1989 and 1990. However, she decorated the inside just as nicely, there was Christmas in every room.

As Grandma, she spent several years during Christmas Break with the younger grandchildren where they fixed foods, sang songs, did craft projects and ended the week with a party and show for parents. The older grandchildren enjoyed a treasure chest filled with dress up clothes, crafts and games.

She also used her artistic abilities to build a lasting historic memory of our lives through capturing the moments with her camera and fixing us albums.

Mom hosted baby showers, bridal showers, and anniversary parties. She decorated for our weddings.

Her love of animals shined through when she saved Sam from going to the pound and he became “ our” dog. When she and Robert moved to Larkspur she captured the wild cats and took them to the shelter. She did end up with 5 of her own. She made yearly donations to the animal shelter.

Insects and spiders that had made their way into the house had nothing to fear. Robert would have to gently catch and release them outside. This trait she passed onto her granddaughter, Brittani.

Several of the family remember her love for birds. She fed them and had many houses in the yard for them to nest. At one time she had hummingbird feeders she would have to fill on a daily basis. One of her Christmas trees was filled with birds. She would take us as kids then the grandkids to the park to feed the ducks.

Her father, James enjoyed gardening and she developed a love of growing flowers. She would run out in the rain and cover them with lawn chairs. At times she would cut them and make beautiful arrangements.

She and Robert enjoyed riding the Gold Wing motorcycle in the mountains and nearby states. After Robert retired they enjoyed traveling to Arizona for the winters.

As youngsters, we’d all go to the mountains for breakfast and exploration.

One of her greatest adventures was enjoying a hot air balloon ride with Mary Thompson, Laurel’s mother-in-law.

In her younger years she sewed Barbie clothes earning ribbons for her entries in fairs. She sewed dresses for Laurel too.

She showed her love and support for us by attending our games, choir concerts, plays, and pushing us to do our best and not give up.

She will be missed by her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchild, Ollie, who sang to her on her last day with us. I am sure she was smiling in her heart at that moment.

Private services will be held.

Family & friends are encouraged to share stories and photograph's of Annette here on her website (click appropriate tab above).