Ann Marie Luker

Ann Marie Luker died at Ascension Mercy Medical Center on July 3, 2022. She was born in Oshkosh on April 3, 1934, a daughter of the late Ralph G. Klieforth and Helen (Gaffney) Klieforth. 
Surviving is her husband, Leon C. Luker. They were married at St. Peter Catholic Church in Oshkosh. Her one and only boyfriend became her husband. Their relationship grew into an unending love that lasted a lifetime and blessed them with nine children. They were constant companions throughout their 72 years of marriage. Her love for her husband was the best example of unconditional love for all her children.  They were totally devoted to each other.
 Ann Marie grew up on Algoma Boulevard across from the University of Oshkosh and spent her summers at their family’s cottage in Black Wolf Point. She grew up with many dear friends who lived near her and enjoyed playing softball, basketball, swimming, and waterskiing. She was athletic and enjoyed being outside all her life. Summers were spent enjoying wonderful times with the family’s horse.  Her love for horses trickled down to all her children who were fortunate to be able to spend many hours riding with her.
 Lake Winnebago had a special place in Ann Marie’s heart, it was here she became her father’s first mate. If she wasn’t on the water, she was in the water.  She was the first person to ever waterski with manufactured foot pockets built onto the skis. She continued to waterski into her fifties and swam her entire life, including this year. Wonderful memories were made vacationing with her entire family on Lake Gordon where she made it a point to swim across the lake every year. All the siblings, grandchildren, and sometimes nieces, nephews and friends helped make these weeks together enjoyable; waterskiing, swimming, four-wheeling, fishing, hiking, and enjoying wildlife. 
Ann Marie was fiercely energetic and determined. She loved being a stay-at-home mom and truly had a wonderful time raising her family. She took night classes to earn her Bachelor of Science at UWO and later earned a Master’s degree from Marian University. She began teaching at the age of 54. She always said she had a wonderful life, raising her own children, and then she enjoyed the luxury of teaching other people’s children. She cherished her years at Washington School. After retiring, she subbed into her eighties. Always a teacher, she taught her children to swim, play the piano, sing, cook, bake, ride horses, ski, sew, clean, care for animals, and more. She was an avid reader and enjoyed reading to her students, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and was well known for her enthusiastic rendition of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. She recently wrote an article which was accepted to be published this winter in the magazine, “The Good Old Days,” thus fulfilling her dream of becoming a published author.  
Her endless energy made her a busy and generous volunteer. Ann Marie’s passion and devotion to St. Peter Church was evident by her many hours spent in various capacities. She served on the first Vicariate, Parish Council, was a lector and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, a Religious Education teacher, and a member of the Aquinas Club.
 She organized and began the Compassionate Friends, and the Oshkosh Pregnancy Lifeline. She served as a Camp Fire Leader and a 4-H leader for many years. She was on the 4-H Board of Directors as well as the Winnebago County Fair Association. She was a member of the Van Dyne Lioness Club and proudly received her 30-year recognition in 2014. She enjoyed helping with their annual parade. 
She belonged to the Oshkosh Noon Optimist Club for over 25 years. She initiated and organized the elementary speech contest. Ann Marie had an eagerness to teach children how to prepare and give a speech and helped many over her lifetime. She was a lifetime member of NEA/WEAC/WU-Retired Teachers Chapter, a member of the Oshkosh Community for HOPE, a Facilitator for Survivors of Suicide, a volunteer for The Special Olympics, and participant in Friendly Town. 
As a mother she was always there to help, support, and celebrate the successes of her children and embraced the needs of each child. She taught her children the value of demanding work, good judgment, courage, and integrity. She taught her children to love, to pray, and to give thanks to God and taught them how to say, “I love you” by squeezing their hands. She meant the world to all her children, who all feel lucky to have had her as their mother and their love for her will live on.  Memories with Ann Marie are keepsakes for all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She often told each of her children that they were her favorite.
 She will be remembered for her love of God, life, and children.
 Surviving are four loving daughters, Susan Marie (Jeffrey) Thoe, Hayfield, MN, Mary Frances (Robert) Tamblin, Princeton, Ann Marie (Todd) Burns, Oshkosh and Christine Eve (Chad Dallman) Krause, Oshkosh. Three devoted sons who survive are James (Candace Ryan) Luker, Chisago Lake, MN, Richard (Julie) Luker, Appleton, and Michael (Melinda) Luker, Eyota, MN and daughter-in-law, Jane Luker, Oshkosh.
 Two sons and a son-in-law preceded her in death: Larry J. Luker, Leon A. Luker, Mark Mattson and former daughter-in-law, Jordis Luker. Her sisters Mary Wrasse and Helen Shenefield, and brother-in-law, Clint Peters also preceded her in death.
 She was dearly loved by her grandchildren who made her so happy. They include: Meghan (Craig), Samantha (Justin), Jeremy (Katie), Joshua (Sarah), Mallery (Nate), Mesa, Merrill (Phil), Mark, Bonnie (TJ), Amanda (Drew), McCayla (Jordan), Katrina, Jody, Shawn, Jared, Cameron, Elliott, Garritt (Kailee), Logan, Robert (Miranda), Nicholas, Gabrielle (Kurt), Hope, Teal (Taylor), Nolan, and Casten and fourteen great grandchildren: Lane, Owen, Vayda, Oslo, Eowyn, Sunny, Hadley, Jak, Gus, Ruth, Jensen, Brady, Eliza, and Kendra. 
She is survived by two brothers, Ralph G. Klieforth of Pleasantville, NY and John J. (Betty) Klieforth, Golden CO, sister-in-law, Shirley Peters, Oshkosh, and brother-in-law Thomas (Margaret) Luker of Butte des Morts.
 A celebration of her life will be held on Monday July 11, at 4:00 pm at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, St. Peter Church, 435 High Avenue. Visitation will be at 2:30 pm until the time of service. The service will be livestreamed; you can view the service at: https://youtu.be/rmKt6YHVgwl  
A private interment will be held the next day.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial to the Luker Family Trust at Lourdes Academy has been established. 
Lourdes – Luker Family Trust
250 N. Sawyer St
Oshkosh, WI
54902 
Or www.oshkoshareacf.org       
Luker Family Fund