Ann's car struck a tree after leaving the road at 2:08 on Hwy 136 in Kahoka, Missouri.

Ann Atterberg, 68, of Keokuk, formerly of Warsaw, Ill., passed away Aug. 29, 2015, near Kahoka, Mo.
Arrangements are pending at DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Centers, Keokuk.


Ann Katharine Stiens was born at St Joseph's Hospital in Keokuk, April 30, 1947, the only child of Harry A. and Helen Bernhardt Stiens. She grew up on the Bernhardt farm in Wilcox Township, Hancock County, IL and after first grade at Green Plains School in the township, attended the "new" Rockford School in the bottoms.
With eleven first cousins all twenty years and more older than she, plus three unmarried aunts who came down from Chicago every summer, Ann felt always in the arms of family despite the rural isolation of one of the last localities to receive Rural Electricity. Her childhood playmates, Diane and Irene Schmitt, died in a Hancock County tragedy in July, 1964, and her beau Tom Erhardt died of Leukemia in 1971. She felt those losses deeply and emphasized her need for people to laugh with.
Learning the clarinet in fifth grade became her life-long avocation from which she never wavered as she played in Warsaw's and then Hamilton's summer bands, and in Keokuk she was adopted into McNamara's Band where she served as music librarian for two decades. She enjoyed opportunities to accompany school musicals and to offer "special music" for church services.
Another continuing education effort was sewing and later machine embroidery. Inspired by Iowa Public Television's Saturday afternoon programs she made clothes and gift items.
Graduating from Warsaw High School in 1965, Ann carpooled with Dale Maag, Judy Depperman and others to the Keokuk Campus of Southeastern Community College for two years and earned an Associate in Arts. On Veteran's Day, 1965, the Stiens family moved to Warsaw. Following that she attended Western Illinois University for a Bachelor of Arts in 1970 and a year of post-graduate study in the Criminal Justice Program in 1978-79.
After college, Ann worked for a time at the Warsaw Public Library and became immersed as a 4-H Club Leader, also becoming a small-town "clubwoman" in Extension, Ladies' Aid and Catholic Church school instructor. She even joined the Boy Scouts to the extent of becoming a first-aid-giver at Camp Eastman in July 1978. There she met Douglas Atterberg, who was volunteering in ecology. It was a case of love at first sight with a long courtship.
On May 8, 1982, Ann and Doug were married at Sacred Heart Church in Warsaw and she adapted to the larger community of Keokuk just in time to be a merging member of All Saints Parish, where she continued as a church school teacher and Bible study participant and choir member. She also participated in "food and fun" activities at Doug's United Presbyterian Church. She abetted Doug's scouting pursuits and drew him into K Concert Association Board as "hospitality chairperson" arranging meals for performances.
In the All Saints congregation she met Deb & Bill McFadden, Barb Cetta, Sue Veith and others, and was especially influenced by Father Michael Spiekermeier. Ann and Father Mike for several years led the March for CROP Walks as ecumenical efforts. She served on the Parish Council and in recent years had been a Eucharistic Minister.
Ann's death directly followed her work at setting up the music folders for McNamara's Band's participation in the Keokuk Labor Day Parade. She would appreciate your watching the parade go by.
Memorials may be made to the 4-H Club of Warsaw or to All Saints Church in Keokuk.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted by Father Robert Lathrop at 10 am on Friday, September 4, 2015, at All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk.
Visitation will be 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, September 3, at DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Center, 1212 Concert Street, with a Christian Vigil Service following the visitation. Burial will follow in Hickory Grove Cemetery in rural Keokuk.