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As received from the Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes:
Houghton
Anne (Mike) Wellman, 72, a resident of Houghton passed away surrounded by her family Monday, February 3, 2020, at the Omega House in Houghton following a short illness.
She was born in St Joseph’s Hospital, Hancock on April 7, 1947, a daughter of Angela and Irving Karry. Anne attended St Ignatius Loyola School, through 8th grade, then Houghton High School, graduating in 1965 and attended MTU for 2 ½ years.
She joined the USAF and was on active duty from 1971 to 1975
Basic at Lackland AFB, TX, she then attended weather Observer School at Chanute AFB, IL, and was stationed at March AFB, CA. She was chosen as outstanding weather observer of the Quarter 1973, at March AFB she then was stationed at Malmstrom AFB, MT, she retired from the Air Force with the rank of Sergeant and was chosen as an outstanding weather observer of the Quarter 1974, at Malmstrom AFB. She earned the Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Basic Military Training Honor Graduate, and the Cold War Medal
On April 6, 1974, she was united in marriage to her Air Force Sweetheart Michael Wellman. They traveled throughout the USA and Europe with Michael (who was active duty Air Force). She shot Archery with the Air Force and Army and civilians in Hawaii. Anne won the Hawaiian State Outdoor Archery Championships in 1976 and the Indoor and Outdoor Hawaiian State Championships in 1977 and 1979. She played softball and basketball for the Air Force in Hawaii. She also played softball at K I Sawyer Air Force Base, where they won the UP-state champs 1982. Anne ran the lunch program for Cardinal Spellman elementary school 1983-1984, played Varsity Softball for the Air Force in Spain 1984-1987 and was the Civilian Volunteer of the Year at Zaragoza AFB, Spain in 1986. While in Spain Anne worked for the Air Force Dental Office at Zaragoza, Air Force Base, Spain. She then worked with special needs children when stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD, and coached Little League, and taught Catholic Religious Education at all assignments.
In retirement Anne and Mike moved to make their home in Houghton since 1988.
Anne was a faithful active member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton where she volunteered as a Religion Teacher, a Lector, and a Eucharistic Minister. Was on the Parish Council at St Ignatius Loyola Church, was active with the Catholic Women and held many different offices. Faith and religion played an active part in all parts of her daily life. She brought Holy Communion to nursing homes and the home-bound in Spain and Houghton.
In 1991, she graduated from Soumi College with a BSN degree in Nursing. She then worked at Portage Hospital for many years and then at Cypress Manor until retirement. Since 2008, Anne has worked in the missions in Honduras feeding the poor, building schools, repairing churches and convents and people’s homes, bringing electricity to schools, and providing medical care.
Starting in 2017, Anne worked with a St Louis Medical Group, at Catacamas, Honduras, at Hermano Santo Pedro Hospital working 12-hour shifts taking care of the sick and injured.
Anne enjoys bowling (where she was the Secretary of the Wednesday night women bowlers), knitting, softball, traveling, and riding her 750cc Honda Shadow.
Surviving are her husband, Michael, and her sons: Scott (Holly) of Minneapolis, Todd (Jeff) of Milwaukee, and Chadd (Emily) of Milwaukee, 2 Granddaughters, Bel and Maisie and her special family in La Paz, Honduras Paty, Urias, Gema, Clara, Ana, and Gloria.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Anne will be held 11 am Friday, February 7, 2020, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton with Fr. John Martignon to celebrate. Spring burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton.
Friends may call on Friday, February 7, 2020, from 9:45 to 10:45 am at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in Houghton.
To view Anne’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes have been assisting the family with the arrangements.
