Ann Sullivan

1926 - 2025

Ann Sullivan

June 20, 1926 - November 8, 2025

Ann M. Sullivan, 99, of Chippewa Falls, died Saturday, November 8, 2025 at her residence.

Ann was born June 20, 1926 in Cashton, Wisconsin, to John and Margaret (Marx) Frederick, the tenth of eleven children. On October 20, 1945, she married the love of her life, Quintin "Sully" Sullivan. They met at an Easter dance, and their love blossomed over the next six months through letters exchanged while Quintin served in World War II. Just before he shipped out to France, they were married.

When he returned home, Ann and Sully moved to the Sullivan family farm, where they lived alongside four of Sully's family members. After welcoming their first four children, they decided to seek a new adventure and moved north, where they owned and operated Sullivan's Resort in Holcombe for many years. Later, they ran Sully's Spring Street Bar in Chippewa Falls.

For nearly twenty winters, Ann and Sully packed up their growing family and spent the colder months in San Antonio, Florida, where they worked in the orange groves. Ann loved those winters away, saying it was "a break from the stress and from cooking morning until night." Wherever they went, faith and family made it home.

Ann was the last surviving member of both her husband's and her own immediate family. She was deeply loved and faithfully remembered by so many nieces, nephews, and in-laws who continued to call and visit throughout her later years.

Ann's huge surviving family include fourteen of her children and their families: Bridget and John Jedlicka, Charlotte, Addison, Wayne Beckwith, Shannon Tarvin; Ellen Stary, Fred, Lisa, Sophia, Felix, Opal, Nova and Archie, Jeremy, Wendy, Tucker, and Max, Nick, Kim, Charlie and Clark; Sheila and Tom Wanta, Steve and Christina, JoJo, Will; Dessie and Denny Hartzell, Darin, Sara, Jayna, Jaxon, Derek, Mary Baxter, Harper and Tanner; Quintin and Marlene Sullivan, Jessie, Robert, Cooper, Quintin, Tori, Mabel, Evelyn, Quintin, and Katie; Kevin and Linda Sullivan, Jon, Renee Krause Derks, Alli and Bradley Gumz, Hudson, Simon, Vada, Wallace Ivy, Tim and Gail Sullivan, Eric, Jackie, Scott, Caitlin Lam, and Miles, Maureen and Charlie Hebert, Heather and Russ Speltz, Taylor, Josh, Kelsie, Madyn, Sloan, Vaughn, Mike, Kailey, Devin, Charlie and Jaime Hebert, Abby, Charlie, Heidi and Justin Bernier, Adrianna, Josh, Ashton, Morgan; Jim and Mary Sullivan, Nicole and Steve Ripplinger, Emma, Maggie, Josh and Adrianne, Ky, Remi; Kathy and Rusty Welke, Ryan, Mariah, Brynn, Bailey and Cody Fanjoy, Hank, and Josie; Dan and Sherry Sulllivan, Shane, Lauren, Ryder, and Lydia, Lindsey and Jared Schlesser, Liza, Athena, Clara, Petra; Hailey and Dane Krajewski, Carter, Keen, Koa, Cruz, Lucas and Jordan Roth, Nash, Lake, Wren; Donna Sullivan, Zach Sullivan and Molly Swailes; Shannon and Kevin Balts, Sami and Nate Robelia, Riley Balts; Terry and Traci Sullivan, Amanda Chartrand, Ali Chartrand and Chevy Studler, Alexis and Joe Schalley; Pat and Aimee Sullivan, Britni, Kenzi; Rob Sullivan and Doris Brosnan, Audrey Sullivan and Liam Sullivan. There are two more great grandchildren in the near future!

She was preceded in death by her husband, Quintin; her daughter and son-in-law, Colleen and Bud Beckwith; her son-in-law, Fred Stary; her grandson, John Wanta; and her sons, David and Stephen Sullivan.

As a young woman, Ann studied to become a nun, even choosing the name Sister Valeria, in honor of her beloved Aunt Valeria, also a nun. That calling didn't last long. Instead, at 19, she married Sully and went on to raise seventeen children. Her children loved to joke that their father had once planned to be a priest and their mother a nun, and together, they built their own kind of holy family.

When her house grew noisy or chaotic (as it often did with seventeen children), she never yelled or scolded. She simply sent them outside to play, hoping they'd burn off their energy in the sunshine.

Ann was a woman who always saw the best in others. Gossip wasn't part of her nature; if you couldn't say something kind, she'd prefer you didn't say it at all. She found joy in every person she met, every small act of kindness, and every accomplishment, big or small, of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Her confidence in her family gave them the courage to chase big dreams and face hard things with grace.

Even in her final years, Ann continued to brighten every room she entered. She loved her time at Chippewa Manor, often saying she'd "never met a difficult person there."

Granny Annie has left a lasting legacy of faith, kindness, humor, and love. She will be remembered as the woman who always helped us find a reason to smile every single day.

She leaves behind a large and loving family who will miss her deeply and carry her spirit forward in the stories she shared and the example she set.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Noon Friday, November 14 at Notre Dame Church in Chippewa Falls. Rev. Daniel Sedlacek will be celebrant of the Memorial Mass. Inurnment will be in O'Neil Creek Cemetery, in Eagle Point township.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of services at Noon Friday, November 14 at the church.

Horan Funeral Home in Chippewa Falls is in charge of arrangements.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.horanfuneralhome.com