Ann E. Beyer

  Ann Evelyn Voltmann Beyer, 91 of Penney Farms, Florida passed away on October 24, 2017 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  She was born July 20, 1926 in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Max and Evelyn Voltmann. She married Norman Smith Beyer on March 29, 1952. They celebrated 61 years together. Ann was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her brothers Jack and Floyd. She is survived by three children, Eric (Patsy-Ann) Beyer of Chicago, IL; Todd (Yvonne) Beyer of Yorktown, VA; and Lenore Beyer of Elgin, IL; and six grandchildren, Alicia (Dave Zeman) Beyer; Melissa (Drew) Holman; Timothy and Emily Beyer; Brian and Rebecca Clow. Ann attended Graceland College and graduated from Antioch College with a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry. After college, she worked as a Bio-Chemist at the Chronic Disease Research Institute at the University of Buffalo conducting research on Cancer and Arthritis. This is where she met and then married Norman. After five years and the birth of their two sons, they moved to Elmhurst, IL. Their daughter was born three years later. Ann was active in her community. She held leadership positions with the local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Through AAUW, she helped start the Elmhurst Recycling Center, ran an amazing used book sale and created scholarships for women to pursue higher education. Ann lobbied for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s always believing in the rights of women. She was also involved with Friends of the Library and helped plan and lead activities for the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Ann and Norman moved overseas in 1976, living in both Vienna, Austria, and Tokyo, Japan. Ann kept the household running while also engaging the family in new cultural experiences.  She loved the music in Vienna and became an opera lover. She learned German and took up cross country skiing. In Tokyo, Ann took classes in Japanese flower arranging and led a group of Japanese ladies in English conversation and in turn learned much about Japanese culture. Norman and Ann moved to Penney Retirement Community in 1998. Ann was a member of Penney Memorial Church, was active on the Food Committee, and chaired the 50th Anniversary Committee. She was known for her cooking and her wonderful dinner parties. Ann and Norman enjoyed attending the Jacksonville Symphony and traveling, within the United State and internationally. Ann will be remembered most for her quiet but strong nature, her intellectual curiosity and her kindness. She was a good friend, a loving matriarch, and a doting grandmother. Donations can be made to the Penney Retirement Community and designated to the Ann Beyer Memorial Fund at P.O. 555 Penney Farms, FL 32079 or penneyretirementcommunity.orgA memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Penney Memorial Church, 4465 Poling Blvd., Penney Farms, FL 32079