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Ann was born at home in Prineville, Oregon on March 13, 1935, the youngest of three daughters of Harry and Crystal (White) Stearns. She grew up on her family's cattle ranch surrounded by a large and loving extended family and by childhood friends - the "Octagon Snots" - to whom she would remain bonded for life.
Ann was an exceptionally talented musician with a beautiful soprano voice. After graduating from the University of Oregon, she moved to San Francisco where she taught music at Marina Middle School. She later lived in Honolulu, where she toured with the USO and met her first husband, Joseph Ramseyer. After their marriage, Ann and Joe moved to Seattle and later built a house on Clyde Hill in Bellevue, where they raised their family. Once her children were older, Ann became a travel agent, a job that allowed her to travel the world and which she enjoyed until her retirement in the early 2000s.
In 1981 Ann moved to Moraga, where she lived for most of the rest of her life. In 1989, she married Hugo Kapelke. Ann and Hugo were married for 33 years and had a beautiful life together. They lived in Belgium for four years, traveled all over Europe and the world, loved to entertain family and friends and above all loved spending time with their 10 grandchildren. They were exceptionally devoted to each other through good times and bad.
Ann was a natural, instinctive cook who rarely used recipes. She loved dinner parties and entertained often, including the large spontaneous family dinners that were so familiar to her from childhood. She always rushed to put other people first, she had a delightful and charming smile, and she was likely to brighten every room she entered. Her family will miss her forever.
She is survived by her husband Hugo, children Sara Ramseyer Klein (Tom) and John Ramseyer (Heather); stepchildren Mark Kapelke (Maki), Erik Kapelke (Susan), Ghila Kapelke (Deborah) and Kevin Kapelke (Patti); grandchildren Julia Klein, William Klein, Scott Ramseyer, Jessica Ramseyer, Marie Biethan (Mike), Julie Kapelke, Lara Kapelke, Lia Kapelke, Anthony Kapelke, and Lukas Carbone; and great-granddaughter Kiki Biethan.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA