Ann F. Stapper

Ann enjoyed many roles in her lifetime. One of Ann’s most enjoyable roles was to support her husband’s military career by hosting women’s groups, bridge and duplicate bridge, dances and teas. The family’s military career took them from San Antonio, where Ann met her husband Ralph, to Bryan, Texas, Whiteman AFB in Missouri, onward to Kansas, California, Florida, Louisiana and finally to Austin, Texas where they retired from military life and settled in as Austinites in 1967. When moving to a new place it was important for Ann to become involved in the community by being involved in the church, athletic and social events in an effort to make the transition as quick and painless as possible. In their retirement, Ann and Ralph continued to play bridge and duplicate bridge and often reminisced about how much they loved dancing.

Ann was a natural leader with strong opinions, a loud voice and a big-as-Texas smile. She was the president of many organizations and groups in the church and sang in church choirs throughout her life. Ann was a member of the choir at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Austin for almost 40 years and inspired her children and grandchildren to sing in the many choirs at St. Theresa. Ann was active in the Republican Women’s Club in Austin and was selected to represent the Austin chapter at a national convention.

Ann is predeceased by her husband, Ralph Stapper, her son Robert Stapper, her son-in-law Thomas Gietl and her sisters, Roberta Williams, Ada Hohl and Tena Wurzbach.

Ann is survived by her daughter, Carol Gietl Luehrs (Dan Luehrs of Montgomery, Alabama); her son John Stapper (Debbie of Austin, Texas); her daughter-in-law Carol Stapper of Austin, Texas; her sister, Freddie Fernbach of Houston, Texas; her granddaughters, Alexandra Stapper, Megan (Joseph) Gietl Ioimo, Sierra Stapper, Elizabeth Stapper, Jenna Gietl, Andrea Stapper, Anne Marie Stapper and great-granddaughter, Kathleen Ioimo, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to especially thank Angela Fidelis and her daughter, Josephine, for the loving care they have provided over many years.

Services for immediate family will be held in honor of Ann at St. Theresa Catholic Church, in Austin, Texas on Thursday, February 11, 2021, with the Rosary beginning at 9:15 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Live Streaming available for those who would like to participate virtually. A private family burial will be held at the Stapper Cemetery in Schertz, TX.

Pallbearers are Ann’s granddaughters: Alexandra Stapper of Austin, Texas, Megan Gietl Ioimo of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Sierra Stapper of San Antonio, Texas, Elizabeth Stapper of Clinton, Mississippi, Jenna Gietl of Washington, DC, Andrea Stapper of Austin, Texas, and Anne Marie Stapper of Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.