Ann Louise Fulkerson
July 28, 1952 – November 23, 2018
Preceded in death by parents, Harold and Dorothy (Woods) Fulkerson; brother-in-law, Dallas Dame; grandnephew, Jake Thrane. Survived by sister, Mary Jo Dame; nephew, Eric Thrane; grandnephews, Brady Thrane and John Thrane; other family and special friends.
VISITATION: Saturday, Dec. 1st from 10am to 11am at the West Center Chapel, followed by CELEBRATION OF LIFE at 11am. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society or Ralston High School for Tennis Program Scholarship.
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Ann was born in Red Oak, Iowa and when she was eight years old, her family moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School, she attended Wayne State College, graduating with a BS. She was an outstanding athlete in softball, basketball and track, and was honored as the Athlete of the Year her Senior Year. At UNO Ann earned a MS in Education and another MS at Peru State College in Computer Science.
Ann was a teacher, coach and Department Head during her 38 years at Ralston High School, Ralston, Nebraska. For eleven years, she taught Drivers Education for the NE Safety Council. She had patience and nerves of steel.
Ann loved all sports and fine arts. She was an avid tennis player and member of the Funky Divas League. As time passed and cancer advanced, Ann was a competitive one-armed tennis player. She was a great ambassador for tennis and a wonderful friend to everyone.
Ann passed away after a courageous battle against cancer. Memorials are suggested to The American Cancer Society, or Ralston High School Tennis Program Scholarship.
Special thanks to all of the loving family, friends and medical personnel who comforted Ann.
13 Comments
I am so very sorry to hear of Ann’s passing. I worked with Ann for 12 years at the National Safety Council, Nebraska. She was one of our driver education instructors. She really cared for the well being and safety of her students. She always wanted to be sure that she taught them how to be safe on the road. She will be truly missed. Deb Heavey
My heart is heavy as I learn of Ann’s passing. What a kind soul! I taught with Ann at Ralston HS and enjoyed getting reacquainted when she came back to sub. I also loved bumping in to her at her neighborhood bistro. We would talk about our shared love of reading and books. I will miss her. My thoughts ad prayers go out to Ann’s family and friends.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I have known Ann since grade school days. We grew up in the same area, went to grade school, junior high and high school.. we were fortunate to have reconnected about 2-3 years ago. We had so many laughs reminiscing. She was a lit of laughs and fun. A great softball player and a great friend.
I am so sorry for your loss. Ann was truly a special person. I grew up with Ann in the neighborhood, went through grade school, junior high and high school together. She was one heck of a softball player. She was the female ball player who could throw the softball from center field to home with no cutoff and would get the runner out. She was a trooper. She knew my sister, who passed away a few years ago and Ann and I would continue contacts with her through my sister. We were fortunate to have reconnected a few years back and spent hours at the Phoenix bar and grill reminiscing and laughing. She will be missed
I was in several of Ms. Fulkerson’s gym classes when I was in high school in the late ’90s. She was so much fun to have as a teacher. I remember we would purposefully hit tennis balls way outside of the courts and she would act mad, but you could tell she thought it was funny too. I also remember dropping my tennis racquet when I went to hit the ball, and we were both doubled over in laughter. There was also the time I fell off of my step during aerobics… maybe I was clumsy, but she always made me feel welcome and I always had fun in her class. She was such a great teacher.
i was a coach at ralston high when ann taught PE classes at RHS. i had several great discussions with her during the seasons. she helped me a lot with great ideas and insights. i always appreciated her points and suggestions. she knew what was on the kids’ minds… well as much as she could with teenagers. she was a good colleague and a good friend. thanks, ann, for all the help you gave me. may you rest in peace and harmony.
I am in absolute shock over the passing of my old friend, Ann. We became close friends during our senior year at Wayne State, and hung out together for a year after that. I really enjoyed visiting her folks in Council Bluffs, and playing with her two cats, Raisin and Acer. We lost touch over the years, but I remember, one day, several years ago, we got together for lunch and had fun at the Westroads. It was a pleasant surprise to see her attend a performance of “Guys and Dolls” I did in 2001. It meant so much to me to have her there. I really wish we could have checked up on each other more than we did. She will always be in my thoughts and fun memories. – John LaPuzza, Tucson, AZ
My condolences to Ann Fulkerson’s friends and family. Miss Fulkerson as I knew her, was our gymnastics coach at Ralston High in the 80’s, I remember her well, and was grateful for her taking up the ‘baton’ and helping to create a gymnastic team at our school. As I remember, she did not have any specific experience coaching gymnastics, but was happy and willing to give us the support and guidance our little crew needed to get started, eventually we had a pretty decent team. Had it not been for her, we might never have formed a school gymnastic team, which I really enjoyed! and became the only team sport I participated in while at Ralston. Fond memories and gratitude.
I had the distinct honor, privilege, and pleasure of playing the outfield with Ann for Wayne State College in 1972-1974, along with several summer leagues, and more than a few alumni games, (when we were older than the dirt on the field, the other players weren’t even zygotes during our college years, and we should have known better but just couldn’t help ourselves). Ann was passionate about anything she decided to undertake. She was all in, 100%. She did have a sense of humor when things didn’t exactly go as planned. Although she sometimes didn’t stay in touch very well, when we did reconnect, we picked up right where we left off. I hope when my time comes, she saved me a place in the outfield with her.
Carol North
I did not Ann very well. She would come to Danny’s Bar and Grill on occasion when I used to work there. It was always a pleasure to see her walk through the door. She was kind, funny, and treated all of us with respect. She always had interesting stories to tell. She was just a really nice lady and I was sorry to see she had passed.
R.I.P. Ms. Fulkerson you were a great gym teacher as well as a homeroom advisor. I will always remember hearing your laughter and seeing your good spirit shine daily at R.H.S.
R.I.P. Ms. Fulkerson you were a great gym teacher as well as homeroom advisor!! I’ll always will remember your laughter and your stories as well as your encouragement when I was at Ralston High School.
My thoughts and prayers are with Ann’s family and friends what a nice lady
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