Ann R. Kleman

An angel was sent from Heaven to guide Ann Ruggles Kleman Home on June 30, 2015.

Ann was born December 19, 1931 to Art and Lucille Ruggles in Ames, Iowa. She was the second of four Daughters. She attended school in Swanton, OH, graduating in 1949. She went on to study at Denver General, becoming an X-Ray technician, and worked for several medical practices over the years.

After graduation, Ann moved to Oakland, CA and met Walt, the love of her life at a social gathering. Walt and Ann later married on September 12, 1954 in Swanton, OH. As they raised their family, they lived in Ames, IA, Wheatridge, CO, Buchanan, MI, finally settling in Appleton, WI in 1965.

After getting her girls well established in school, she began to work for Medical Arts in Appleton in X-Ray. She always said she would retire when there was no tread left on her work shoes. More than once, her co-workers plotted to have them resoled so that she would stay.

Ann enjoyed so many things. To say she loved to quilt would be an understatement. Girl Scouting, gardening, volunteering and spending her time and talents with friends and family were also cherished activities of hers.

Left to celebrate her life is her husband of 61 years, Walt Kleman; her daughters Kathy (C.G.) Mason of Marshalltown, IA; Norma (Paul) DeGroot of Appleton, WI; Marti (Brad) Ryan of Holley, NY and Joan (Russ) Kuenzi of St. Louis Park, MN. She will be remembered always as Grannie Annie to her grandchildren: Jeff (Beth) Fuchsen of Urbandale, IA; Chris (Mary) Fuchsen of Liscomb, IA; Lindsay DeGroot of Milwaukee, WI, Michael DeGroot of St. Francis, WI, Tommy (Theresa) Hensel of Wausau, WI and Dana Kuenzi of St Louis Park, MN. She left a wonderful legacy of love and encouragement to her great-grandchildren, Chelsea Fuchsen, Foster, Collin and Soon-To-Arrive baby Fuchsen, and Elisabeth and Tommy Hensel. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister Laura Carpenter of Marion, Ohio, and her parents, Arthur and Lucille Ruggles, of Swanton, Ohio. While all family held special places in her heart, her sisters Beth (Marty) Kaback of Toledo, OH and Margie Sharples of West Lafayette, IN share a cherished place and they will continue to share the legacy of Aunt Ann to the extended Ruggles family.

Finally, while there were so many people that enriched Ann's life, a special note of love goes to Carol Carlson and Sue and Bogey Bogenschutz – you are and forever will be, family.

A special note of thanks goes to Dr. Bar-Lev, Dr. Guenther and their staffs for their wisdom, care and expertise, and to the angels at ThedaCare Hospice for their compassion during her short stay.

A service to celebrate Ann's life will be held at 11:00 AM at Memorial Presbyterian Church (803 E. College Ave.) in Appleton on Saturday, July 25th, 2015. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Iowa State University Foundation – Ruggles Memorial Fund (2505 Elwood Dr, Ames, IA 50010-8644) or to a charity of your choice.

Ann has now joined those who went before her, and were there to welcome her home.