Anny Wiles

Anny Wiles, born Anna Zurcher, has gone to be with the Lord. She was born April 26, 1926, and passed away in her sleep with her family nearby on November 4, 2025, at the age of 99 ½. Anny was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Warren Wiles, and by her siblings, Alice Bruppacher, Paul Zurcher, and Willy Zurcher. She is survived by daughters, Debra Cole (Mitch) and Krista Johns, and by grandchildren, Nathaniel Cole, Kenneth Cole, Hyde Lundquist (Lundyn), and Jessica Sands Bowling (Joshua).

Anny was born and raised in Switzerland, the third of four children. Her father was a customs officer, and her childhood was spent in various customs houses along the mountainous borders of Switzerland. As a child, Anny and her family spent many happy times biking and hiking trips in the Alps and swimming in the beautiful clear lakes. Their life was modest but filled with laughter and games. As a young person, Anny learned about God and her relationship with Him became her driving purpose, area of study, and passion in life. Anny's first paid job was as a live-in nanny and housekeeper. However, later as a young adult, she apprenticed in an art shop where her steady hand and artist's eye were put to use in restoring the gold leaf and calligraphy of archival documents. In her 20's, Anny met and fell in love with an American army soldier. They became engaged, and she traveled by ship to the U.S. to be married. Anny's husband Warren was a minister and an educator. They served as pastors of several small churches in Wisconsin, where daughters, Krista and Debra were born. After a few years, the family moved to Guam and then to Europe, where Warren and Anny's children enjoyed sharing time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Anny always had an affinity for animals and could connect with any animal, wild or domesticated. This was a great boon to her children and their friends when visiting zoos, circuses, and out in nature. And of course, they always had pets in the home.

Anny and Warren returned to the Midwest before settling in California. Through the years, Anny continued her love for music, singing and playing the accordion and zither. She sang in the church choir, and actively participated with Warren in ministry, including as Senior Ministries pastors in Southern California and later as chaplains at a church affiliated nursing home. Both Anny and Warren worked outside of ministry as well; Anny spent years in banking and customer service. She also always continued her art, in painting, mixed media, and across various crafts. After Warren's death, Anny lived for a number of years with daughter Krista in Petaluma, California before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico to live with daughter Debra and her family in the little apartment they built for her onto their home. In her last few months on earth, Debra and family provided loving caregiving for Anny. Anny knew that her life on earth was only a brief moment compared with eternity. But during her long life, she enjoyed it to the fullest. Her children and grandchildren have the legacy of her godly influence and her love (and her sense of humor!). Anny was not afraid of death, and she looked forward to crossing the veil to be in heaven with Jesus. We will miss her until we see her again.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Legacy Church, 7201 Central Avenue - Albuquerque, NM 87121.