Ann was born in Sioux Falls, SD, to Ed and Nellie Naughton. She and her 9 siblings were raised in the North End of Sioux Falls where the family were members of St. Joseph Cathedral parish and Ann and her siblings attended Cathedral school. As a child, Ann enjoyed helping her father in his large vegetable garden, organizing games with her siblings and neighborhood friends, and was an avid reader. Her mother taught her to bake, sew, and knit, hobbies that continued throughout her life. A talented seamstress, Ann often designed and made her own clothes as a young woman.
After graduating from Cathedral High School in 1950, Ann’s adventurous and independent nature led her to Washington, DC, where she worked as a ticket reservation clerk for Braniff Airlines at National Airport. While working for Braniff Airlines, Ann met her future husband, John “Buck” Schaefle, also an airline employee. While living in Washington, DC, Ann and her friends from the airline would travel to explore many cities in the US, and once visited Havana, Cuba.
Ann and Buck were married at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls in July 1956. In the early years of their marriage, Buck’s career as an air traffic controller took them around the Midwest. They lived in Elyria, OH, Huron, SD, Lafayette, IN, Bloomington, MN, Aberdeen, SD, and eventually back to Ann’s hometown of Sioux Falls. Together, Ann and Buck dedicated their lives to caring for children. Ann and Buck had nine kids, cared for three foster children, and Ann provided day care for friends’ and neighbors’ children. Ann also worked as a school librarian and aide in the Sioux Falls schools where she shared her love of reading. Ann loved to watch her children, those in her care, and other kids explore the world around them, express themselves, and discover creative outlets—singing and playing musical instruments, school plays and impromptu backyard and basement productions, writing stories, art, playing soccer, softball or baseball, and many, many other activities. Ann and Buck were fixtures at school events for the 30+ years their children attended elementary through high school, and even after their own children finished school they would attend events for friends’ and neighbors’ children.
Ann and Buck were both active in their parish and community wherever they lived throughout their life together. Ann was involved in the National Organization of Women and the League of Women Voters, and often campaigned for issues and causes to improve women’s and children’s lives.
After Buck passed, Ann moved to the Twin Cities to be closer to her children. For the last eight years of her life, Ann was a resident of St. Therese Care Center of New Hope. The Schaefle family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff at St. Therese for the excellent and loving care they gave to Ann, and the support they provided to the rest of the family, as Ann coped with the effects of Alzheimer’s and other health issues.
Ann is survived by her children Ed and Karen Schaefle (Anoka, MN), Mary Schaefle and Steve Baranski (Mounds View, MN), Nellie and Jeff Aghbashian (Cheyenne, WY), Nat Schaefle (Hyattsville, MD), Mayken and Joe Cox (Lauderdale, MN), Delia and Dean Coleman (Ankeny, IA), and Margie Schaefle (Coon Rapids, MN), and her grandchildren and great-grandchild Amanda, Jeremy, and Murphy, Colleen and Ian, Tara, Sophie, Ainsley, Sawyer, Michaela, and Grayson, as well as seven of her younger siblings, in-laws, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Buck, her son Jim and daughter Sarah, her parents Ed and Nellie, and her sister Margo and brother Mike.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation or volunteering for an organization in your community that works to improve the lives of women, children, and families in need.
Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, October 19, with visitation one hour prior at St. Stephen’s Church in Anoka, MN, with interment October 20 at 1pm at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD.
For obituary and online registry, please visit www.kapalaglodekmalone.com or call Kapala Glodek Malone Funeral home at 763-535-4112.
