Ann Marie Corlane Harestad Langmann died peacefully from heart failure at Halycon House in Washington, Iowa on Dec. 27, 2020. A private family service will be held on Dec. 31. Interment will be at the Durant Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Durant American Legion, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or Washington County Hospice. Condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.
Ann Marie, daughter of Alfred and Cora Harestad, was born Sept. 14, 1930 in Huxley, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed in the Fjelberg Lutheran Church, Huxley. She was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Durant.
Ann Marie graduated from Huxley High School and Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. She worked as a third grade teacher in Hubbard, Iowa, and substitute teacher in Durant. She was a valuable employee for many Iowa businesses: Woolworths (Ames), The Variety Store (Radcliffe), Larsen’s Grocery Store (Radcliffe), private secretary for USF&G Insurance and State Auto Insurance (Des Moines), private secretary for Dr. Tanner, Waldorf College (Forest City).
On Aug. 21, 1954, she married Dale Langmann, teacher and coach in Hubbard, Iowa. In 1955, the young couple moved to Sheffield, Iowa. While living there, Ann Marie was an active member of school groups, church groups and a women’s club.
In 1960, they moved to Durant, where Dale worked as a teacher and coach, eventually becoming a rural mail carrier.
Ann Marie was a devoted leader in her community. She served as president of Lutheran Women, was a Legion Auxiliary Member, an officer and president of County, District, and State Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary. She was also a leader for Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scouts, and Webelos for many years, as well as a PTO officer, and a Women’s Club officer. In 1972, she was honored as one of the top 100 Women in Iowa at a luncheon in Des Moines.
Ann Marie and Dale raised three children of their own, Cindy, Kim and Alan. In 1982, after the unexpected deaths of Ann Marie’s brother and his wife, they welcomed their nieces, Carla and Jill, into their family.
Ann Marie and Dale enjoyed attending rural carrier conventions; they traveled throughout the state of Iowa, and visited almost every state in the USA. They also traveled to Guam and several European countries to visit their family. Ann Marie especially enjoyed a trip to Sweden to see Berit Palmgren, her Swedish daughter-in-heart, and a trip to Norway to meet many cousins and see the ancestral home.
She gave much of herself during her lifetime, serving those around her in any way she could. She enjoyed baking with her grandchildren, writing letters and creating crafts for her loved ones, and volunteering her time to connect with and uplift her community. She was always patient, gracious and kind to those who she met on her journey through life. She will be deeply missed by her friends and family.
Ann Marie is lovingly remembered by her children, Cindy (Jim) Ayres of Washington, Iowa, Kim (Brian) Davis of Muscatine, Alan (Lynnae) Langmann of Colgate, Wisconsin, and Carla (Brian) Kieffer of Menomonie, Wisconsin; grandchildren Jennifer Palmer, Benjamin (Jeandette) Ayres, Angela (Drew) Ayrit, Allison (Noah) Eichelberger, Dr. Michael (Tegan) Davis, Sydney (Chase) Rae, Chandler Langmann, Megan Kieffer, Meredith Kieffer, Matthew Kieffer; Great Grandchildren: Peter Palmer, Wyatt Palmer, Rowan Ayrit, Leilani Ayres, Luna Ayres, and Lily Jean Ayres.
She was preceded in death by her husband Dale Langmann in 2006; father Alfred Harestad; mother Cora Harestad Hoffman; stepfather William Hoffman; sister Orella Berg; brother Carl Harestad; and niece Jill Harestad.
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