Lou Ann Fanning, age 81, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2021 at Rose Senior Living Center in Clinton Township with her son, Patrick, by her side. Her roots run deep in Macomb County as she grew up a farmer’s daughter, the oldest of five sisters. Lou Ann was born on October 10, 1940, to Louis and Ann Beaufait in Mt. Clemens, Michigan but moved soon after to Washington, Michigan. She is survived by her son, Patrick, daughter-in-law Kimberly and seven grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob, Joseph, Jonah, John, Georgianna, and Gabriella. She also has four surviving sisters, Jane (Gerald), Rose Marie (Trevor), Barbara and Susan (Richard). She was preceded in death by her parents, former husband John and brother-in-law Roger.
Lou Ann received her bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights University in 1962, a Master’s Degree from Saginaw Valley State University in 1988 and a Specialist Degree in Education from Wayne State University in 1990.
Lou Ann began her career in the Lakeshore Public School District where she taught Kindergarten for 5 years. She took a short break to raise her son before returning to teaching at Herman Klix Elementary in the L’Anse Creuse Public Schools. She taught at Yacks Elementary before becoming Principal for 23 years at Atwood Elementary. She retired in 2011 after almost 50 years in the teaching and administrative profession. This was not a “job” to Lou Ann but an avocation that she dearly loved.
Her school, Atwood Elementary, was given the Michigan Exemplary School Award. She always claimed it was her staff and parents that earned this award.
Upon her retirement in 2011, her staff requested that the library be renamed “Lou Ann Fanning Media Center”, an honor she was humbled and extremely proud to receive.
Lou Ann was not only an educator but a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 from 3-8 PM at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes Road, Clinton Township, MI. An in-state will follow Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at 9:30 AM, until time of funeral mass at 10 AM at St. Paul of Tarsus Catholic Church, 41300 Romeo Plank Road, Clinton Township, MI. Final resting place Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, MI. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Paul of Tarsus Food Pantry, Clinton Township, the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit or the L’Anse Creuse Foundation. Lou Ann had a heart that reached out to the poor and needy. To read full obituary, please visit www.resurrectionfuneralhome.com
