Ann Marie Kopplin passed away on Friday, December 26th at Highview Hills in Lakeville, MN. Her passing ends a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease, but her spirit lives on--stronger than ever--among the family and friends she continually enriched throughout her life.

Ann was born July 20th, 1948 to LeRoy and Ebba (Hoglund) Hellerstedt. The second of six children (older brother Howard and sisters Mary, Carol, Lois, and Amy), Ann was close to and had a unique relationship with each of her siblings. She loved telling stories about growing up in Moose Lake, about walks to see Grandpa and Grandma Hoglund, and about the mischief she, Howard, and Mary would get up to outside as youngsters before Ebba and LeRoy reigned it in.

More than this, she and her family loved to laugh—loud, long, and often—even if this sometimes got her and her younger sister Mary in trouble at night in their shared bedroom. But, more often than not, Ebba and LeRoy were eventually caught up with laughter alongside their girls. Laughter was contagious at the Hellerstedt home, and Ann spread it wherever she went in life afterward as well.

Ann graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth, majoring in elementary education. She moved to Slayton, MN where she met her husband Darrell teaching in the same school district. The two were married in July of 1972.

Over the next several decades Ann and Darrell lived in a number of different communities across Minnesota: Brainerd, St. Cloud, Sartell, Nisswa, Moose Lake, and Lakeville. They had two sons, Jonathan and Joel, and three family dogs: Duchess, Lady, and Max.

Ann always adored children and pets, and they always adored her in return. She was proud of being a mother.  She enjoyed interacting with her many nieces and nephews. Ann was especially proud of being a grandmother to Jonathan's two sons, Jacob and Alex.

In addition to teaching, Ann held a variety of jobs across those years as well: florist, banker, retail clerk, at-home caregiver. Of these, she always said that being a caregiver was the most satisfying and meaningful.

Ann was also powerfully imaginative and gifted in the visual arts. For decades, she developed skills with oil and acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils, and wood crafts. She was especially excellent at landscape paintings—and her canvasses remain among her sons' most treasured keepsakes. Her creativity and imagination left an immeasurable mark on the development of her sons' own artistic callings: Jon in music, Joel in the language arts. Ann encouraged her sons at every turn, freely nurturing their interests and pursuits. She always understood that art was more than a mere hobby, and that playtime was more than a distraction.

Ann is survived by her husband Darrell of 53 years, her sons Jonathan (Kim) and Joel, her grandsons Alex and Jacob, sisters Mary Hellerstedt, Carol (Mark) Havlik, Lois Hellerstedt, and Amy Hellerstedt, and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Ebba and LeRoy, and her brother Howard Hellerstedt.

She is sorely and sincerely missed, but we are all also relieved that she is at peace and whole once more, outside of Alzheimer's reach.

Her memorial service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lakeville, MN at 11 AM on Friday, January 16th at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour before.  In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org, or a charitable organization of your choice.