BALL, Anna

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Monday, December 07, 2009 Ann Sroka Ball died in her sleep on Dec. 4, 2009. She died as she lived: quietly and with little fanfare. She celebrated her 93rd birthday with family on Oct. 30, 2009, in Lyons, Colo. Ann grew up in Ohio, the second of five daughters of immigrant Polish/Czechoslovakians. She married George Glenn Ball. They would raise four daughters and one son - an artist, a gardener, a human resources director, a market supervisor and an instructional designer. And these five children would have one child each: an environmental programs director, a helicopter pilot, a special education schoolteacher, a mechanic and a fourth-grader. Ann spent her life as a homemaker bar none. She elevated each meal to an art. She cooked and baked with enthusiasm. She made everything from scratch up until her late 80s when her rheumatoid arthritis crippled her. She put flowers on the dining room table. Her artwork had to be hung straight. She sewed many of our clothes - coats included. She understood organization so well we swore she could have run the world. Ann could discuss the Nuggets or the Broncos' records as easily as a recipe for lemon meringue pie or a bridge move. She read a broad range of books voraciously and with enthusiasm. She kept track of all the family happenings. We depended on her to hear about our siblings, their spouses, and our nieces and nephews. Mom always had a royal escort in her wheelchair up the 19 steps to the front door at Blue Mountain, where we had most of our celebrations. She looked like a queen. They carried her the last time on Thanksgiving. Ann's husband, George Glenn, died in 1998. A special thanks to Justin and the other caregivers at Wynwood. Hospice was wonderful. Mom loved Vishnu's gentle touch. Surviving family includes Barbara Shark and husband Bud of Lyons, Colo.; Mimi Hedl and husband Ron of Belle, Mo.; Susan Hopkins and husband Charles of Wheaton, Ill.; George Ball and wife Jolene of Waterloo, Iowa; and Lisa Stepanovic and husband Paul of St. Louis, Mo.; grandchildren Zo Whyman and husband Paul of Fort Collins, Colo., Hilary Smith and husband Kerry of Pacifica, Calif., Corey Hopkins and Jennifer Oland of Denver, Colo., Bradley Ball and Jessica Japczyk of Libertyville, Iowa, and Miya Stepanovic of St. Louis, Mo.; and great-grandchildren Audriana Ball and Jaxon Campbell. Contributions in Ann Ball's memory may be made to Hospice of Boulder and Broomfield Counties. Information provided by survivors.