Ann Elizabeth Haden

Ann Elizabeth (Butler) Haden died peacefully at Holt Senior Care and Rehab on June 24, 2023. Careline Hospice was there providing music, massage, and pastoral care for her in her last days. They also allowed her to be free of pain and anxiety.

Our sister was born on April 17, 1942, in Battle Creek, Michigan and was the eldest daughter of Chuck and Winnie (Mulvany) Butler of Bellevue. She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1960 and spent time in Virginia receiving vocational training. While there, she met and married her husband, Bob Haden. In 1965 they returned to Michigan and settled in Battle Creek.  Ann and Bob were members of Bethel Baptist Church in Bedford, Michigan. It was there Ann found a wonderful community of friends. She especially enjoyed the monthly Ladies Luncheons where they visited a variety of restaurants around the area.

Her caring nature prompted her to work with the elderly and children at different locations around the city. One of her favorite sites was Ann J. Kellogg where she loved working with the kids.

After 31 years of marriage, Bob died. She remained living in Battle Creek. It was there her apartment building had a horrible fire and she lost every possession. She took it in stride, moved into another apartment and began again. While she missed some of her favorite things, she never complained. She knew it could have been much worse. In 2015, she moved to Holt and lived at Prestige Way, an assisted living facility. Another new start where she made many friends and was very active in all their activities.

In her 60s, she began attending Camp Independence at Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay, Michigan. It was there she learned how to kayak (in the waters of Lake Superior no less), become a better photographer, and paint ceramic gifts which she presented to us at the end of camp. We appreciated them then and will cherish them forever.

Ann is survived by her sisters, Sue Stibitz of Munising and Okemos, Nancy (Mike) Olmstead of Bellevue; great-niece Abby (Mike) Taylor of Okemos; great-nephews Brom (Youngsook) Stibitz of Okemos, Kory (Jen) Olmstead of Sherwood, Kyle (Teresa) Olmstead of New Gloucester, Maine; and a number of great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, her sister Jane and her brother-in-law Tom Stibitz.

When we think of Ann, we remember her for being incredibly kind...unless she was playing canasta with us. She told everyone she had taught her little sisters to play when we were in elementary school. She was a sweet, content woman with the patience of a saint. She loved playing trivia, cards, painting, anything artsy. Ann had a big, generous heart and always favored the underdog.

In lieu of all other things, her family asks you to show an act of kindness to someone and dedicate it to her memory.

We will be having a private graveside ceremony. She will be interred in the Bellevue Riverside Cemetery.

Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 205 N Elizabeth St, Bellevue, Michigan 49021. Please visit www.//kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guestbook, or to leave the family condolences.