Ann Weiss Dunn LaReau

Ann LaReau was killed in a tragic automobile accident in East Tennessee on November 25, 2022, while visiting her son Mark Dunn and family. Ann was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 10, 1944, to Helen Elizabeth Weiss, who as a single mom raised Ann and her 2 brothers, Regis and Eric, in Sandusky, Ohio.

Ann attended Kent State University and earned a degree in hotel/motel management from Holiday Inns.  Her first assignment was to open and manage a new property in Provincetown, Cape Cod. She opened a new inn in Deerfield Beach, Fla. During her 4 years there she also managed properties in Boca Raton and Highland Beach. Her next assignment was as event manager of the Lexington, Ky., Convention Inn. She was the first woman elected to the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, and was president of the Hotel/Motel Managers Association. .

In Lexington she met her future husband of 36 years, Ron LaReau, a business consultant who traveled the world. He consulted in Saudi Arabia before establishing his headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and economic development organization,  hired Ann as vice president of community affairs where she served for 11 years. She established the Small Business Council, managed the Silent Observer Anonymous Tip Program with the police department, and directed the Chamber’s 100th birthday celebration bringing Willard Scott and Rue McClanahan as parade marshals.

Her proudest Chamber achievement was overseeing the grand opening in 1981 of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. She organized dozens of volunteers who could pass the Secret Service background checks. She provided services to 7 world leaders, some of whom visited for an entire week. They included  President and Mrs. Reagan, Mexican President José López Portillo, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sunao Sonoda, former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

President Ford’s personal guests included Bob Hope (master of ceremonies), Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Orlando and Dawn, Pat Boone, and Margaret Truman. She was eternally proud of what she accomplished for Grand Rapids and the Fords and thoroughly enjoyed reliving this amazing experience with her Wilmington friends. “One of the most challenging, interesting, and exhausting times of my life,” she said.

In Grand Rapids Ann began her interest in Alzheimer’s care, which later became her profession. She dearly loved servicing and helping in the Alzheimer’s and elder care field. When Ron reduced his world travel, they searched for a community where they could grow old together: a sleepy Southern town with 4 seasons, and international airport, and lots of water. In 1993 they moved to Wilmington. Ann served station WHQR as development director, and the Lower Cape Fear Hospice as volunteer coordinator.

Ann trained for months with the National Alzheimer’s Association, North Carolina Alzheimer’s Association, then 6 months with Teepa Snow of the Southeast NC Alzheimer’s Association. She acquired certification to teach care for continuing education credits, conduct support group meetings, and earned designation as a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Certified Nursing Assistant. She was one of the few area trainers qualified to present the Virtual Dementia Tour.

For 16 years she worked for Home Instead, serving their clients regionally. In 2018 she established her own business, LaReau Alzheimer’s Consulting, LLC. She was a continuing and vocal advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, research, and qualified care givers.

After Ron died in 2012, Ann joined the Wilmington Rotary Club. There she met fellow Rotarian Wilbur Jones, a retired Navy captain, author, and military historian, whose wife of 54 years had recently died. Her badge profession read: “Senior Care.” Growing old, Wilbur figured he needed plenty. So, the two immediately became inseparable best friends and sweethearts, enjoying 9 wonderful years sharing their lives and core beliefs together. She became a major part of his family. He buoyed and encouraged her, and she enjoyed supporting his history preservation projects, including accompanying him on 4 business trips to Europe. They were meant for each other. She was his life, and he was hers.                   

Ann embodied Rotary’s “Service above Self” motto and, with Wilbur, embraced Rotary’s Four-Way Test credo: “Will it build good will and better friendships?” It worked for them.

Ann was a member of the Health Care Managers organization, and volunteered for Capt’n Bill’s annual Alzheimer’s volleyball tournament; and the annual Alzheimer’s Walk. She kept busy providing in-home assessments, speaking and training presentations, private duty care, and working with adult children caring for elderly parents. For 30 years, she touched many lives and was extremely proud of her professional work and compassionate service.

Ann leaves her son Mark Dunn (Krista) of Butler, Tenn.; brothers Regis (Sandy) Weiss and Eric (Vickie) Weiss of Sandusky, Oh.; granddaughters Brianne, Haley, and Danielle (with great grandson Caspian); stepchildren Lisa LaReau, Lousville, Ky.; Celest LaReau, Nashville, Tenn.,; and Corinne LaReau, Lexington, Ky.; and dear friends Patty Macino, Wilmington; and Sarah Blackmon, Chazy, N. Y.

A Celebration of Life service for Ann will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 4, at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, Second and Orange Streets, Wilmington, with a buffet luncheon to follow.  Reverend Robert Lapp of the Southport Presbyterian Church will officiate.  Music by Duke Ladd.  

Please sign the online Guestbook at www.andrewsmortuary.com