Annabelle “Ann” Jantsch, a loving, compassionate no-nonsense mother who had a strong impact on many lives died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on April 30, 2024.

A visitation for Ann will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Peosta.  Visitation will also be held after 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Saturday, where a celebration of life service for Ann will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Peosta, with Deacon Jim Koetz. Burial will be held at a later date.

Ann was 85 years old, born in Bayfield, WI, the oldest child of John and Loretta (Fizell) Mesner.  Ann grew up in Washburn, WI, and after high school attended St Josephs’ School of Nursing in Marshfield, WI, graduating as a registered nurse in 1959. She earned her BS degree from St. Francis College in 1986.

She married William “Bill” Jantsch in Dorchester, WI on June 18, 1960; they met on a blind date attending a Milwaukee Braves baseball game. Ann’s nursing career included experiences at hospitals in Marshfield, UW Madison, Platteville, and Cuba City, WI, and Dubuque. She retired after 24 years of service at Mercy Health Center Behavioral Health Unit (2 West) in 1997, the last 18 years as the nurse manager.

Ann’s community service included Phone-a-Friend Crisis Line, a Critical Incident Debriefing Team that was involved in the Oklahoma City Bombing rescue effort, hospice volunteer, and blood drive coordinator at St John the Baptist. She enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren, growing flowers, reading, watching mysteries, playing bridge, and doing water aerobics and golfing at Thunder Hills Country Club. Besides friendships with the THOPs and taking senior classes at Mt. Carmel, she was thrilled to travel the world with husband Bill to Egypt, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hawaii, Alaska, the Bahamas, Peru, Belize, Panama, China, Tibet, and Israel. She also enjoyed spending retirement Februarys on the beach at Alabama Gulf Shores or Arizona to have a girls’ week with her four daughters.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bill Jantsch. They were blessed with five children and ten grandchildren: Jennifer (Brian) Berndt, Christopher and Kelly of Windsor, CA; Ellen (Mike) Woods, Chelsea and Connor of Chandler, AZ; William Paul “BJ”, Madelyn, Alex, and Ryan; Elizabeth (Dan) Parks, Carson and Bennett of Omaha, NE and Carolyn (Todd) Sampson, Cael of West Des Moines, IA.  Sisters Mary Jane Gonia Deering (Gerry) of Rochester, MN; Nancy Sveda of Ashland, WI, Sue Kolwalski (Tom) Smith of Mayer, MN; and sister-in-law’s Joan DiCello Mesner of Kenosha, WI; Sister Barbarina Jantsch of Milwaukee, WI; Judy Gramling (Duane) Westphal of Neenah, WI; Mary (Louie) Barranco of Mt Juliet, TN; Gerri Thomas Jantsch of Sedona, AZ and brother-in-law Jim Jantsch of Dorchester, WI and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Judy Sutton; brothers Frank, Stan, and Bernie; sister-in law Jean Karaba Mesner; brothers-in-laws Dan Gonia, Stuart Sutton, James Sveda and Dan Jantsch.

Special thanks to Dr. Reis, and Hospice of Dubuque for the very special care shown to Ann and her family. Memorials may be given in her honor to a PBS TV or radio station in your area, Hospice of Dubuque, or any mental health awareness organization.