Ann Roonie Uhrig

On Thursday, June 7 2018, Ann ""Roonie"" Uhrig, loving wife and mother of 2, passed away at the age of 81. Roonie was born in Boonville, Missouri on November 14, 1936. The eldest daughter of John and Mabel (Lewis) Hamlin. She attended Central Missouri State College and received her BSE in 1958 and her Masters in 1972. She was employed as a Special Education Teacher, first in the Harrisonville Schools and later in Atqasuk and Point Barrow, Alaska School System.

Roonie got her lifelong nickname from her mother. A song called “Annie Rooney” that Mabel sang included the line “Little Annie Rooney is my Sweetheart.” In 1942 her father, John, was offered a job with Transcontinental and Western Airlines in Vandalia, Ohio. This was Roonie's home for the next 12 years. Roonie took up hobbies that each of her parents enjoyed. Playing the piano with the Masonic Order of The Eastern Star and also for her own personal satisfaction. Learning Mah-Jongg (a big pastime of officers wives at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) then adapting it to a much friendlier version (called Rules by Roonie) played in several Arizona retirement parks. In high school, she enrolled in an all boy class, Aeronautics. Straight A's for that class and eventually she flew solo in her father’s plane in 1956. Later in the 70's, Roonie received her Amateur Radio (HAM) License. First as WD0FIU in Missouri then as KL7TX in Alaska. There were a number of HAM operators that were lucky to have made contact with another radio from on Top of The World !

She met the love of her life, Charles Louis (Chuck) Uhrig in 1954, during Freshman Orientation at CMSC. Engaged in 1956, married on May 31, 1958. Their first son, Timothy Wayne in 1959 and their second son, John Louis in 1961. They set up housekeeping in Chuck's hometown of Carrollton, Missouri. A change of employment for Chuck in 1967 lead to the family moving to Harrisonville, Missouri in 1968. Roonie began teaching Special Education soon after moving to Rustic, Colorado in 1978. The family built a beautiful home in the Poudre Canyon that summer. Enjoying the elevation at 7200 feet was a way of life for 5 years until 1983 when a simple twist of fate gave the couple of 25 years a new adventure to Alaska!

Roonie and Chuck were employed by the North Slope Borough School District. (The Largest School District in the World) Special Education Teacher Extraordinaire until 1991. Roonie was able to retire and enjoy her status as a “Snow Bird” 6 months in Poudre Canyon and the remainder of the year in Mesa, Arizona.

In her retirement she enjoyed her family and friends, being a Mah-Jongg teacher, loved quilting and her companions in the Poudre Peacemakers. She was a fan of Diana Gabaldon's “Outlander” series and enjoyed reading with her “Nook”. Roonie and Chuck traveled to Europe several times. They learned how to board in Bed and Breakfast accommodations and make use of public transportation, “DON'T be late for the TRAIN !” They had a small RV that took them to Nova Scotia, Colonial Williamsburg, throughout the Midwest, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, plus Canada and along the Al-Can Highway back into Alaska. She loved to write of her adventures and has many books that are filled with their vacations. She wrote an autobiography (of which some is used here) and an unpublished novel that she called Searching for The Elephant. Roonie enjoyed doing historical reenactments and making her own clothes for Revolutionary and Civil War Balls and participating regularly at the yearly 1838 Rendezvous in Riverton, Wyoming.

Diagnosed in the fall of 2017 with Alzheimer's and Congestive Heart Failure. She passed peacefully in her sleep. Surviving is her devoted husband of 60 years and 7 days, Charles L. “Chuck” Uhrig of Loveland, Colorado; sister, Carol Hulser of Cordova, Tennessee; son, Tim (Claudia) Uhrig of Loveland, Colorado and son, John (Samantha) Uhrig of Carlsbad, New Mexico and grandchildren: Stephanie, Travis, Justin and Jesse.

A Memorial Service and pot luck lunch (Pulled Pork for sandwiches to be supplied by the family) is planned for Sunday, July 29th at the Upper Poudre Canyon Community Building beginning at 12p Noon. Inurnment to follow (approx 1:30) at Poudre Chapel columbarium. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the National Special Olympics would be appreciated. Special Olympics, 1133 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036-3604 USA 1-800-700-8585.