Annette Vance

Annette F. Vance, 77, of Ankeny, passed away from cancer February 1, 2020 in Des Moines, IA. She was born March 6, 1942 in Minneapolis, MN to Herbert and Bonnie (Jamison) Golliet. As a young girl she participated in horse riding competitions and sailing. Annette graduated from Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, MN. She attended Drake University where she met her husband, Dave Vance, and graduated in 1964. Dave and Annette married in 1966 at the Wayzata Country Club. She earned a Master's Degree in Art Education from Iowa State University and taught art in the public schools for 30 years. Annette was an incredibly active member of the community. She received the Des Moines Register's Neighbor of the Week award in 1983 and the Governor's Leadership Award for Community Development in 1984. Annette was chosen as the Des Moines YMCA Volunteer of the Year in 1985, the Ankeny Chamber Citizen of the Year in 1993, and Iowa's Outstanding Elementary Art Educator for 1999-2000 by the Art Educators of Iowa. She has served as president and an original member of the Ankeny Arts Council and also president of the Ankeny Friends of the Arts organization. Annette was the first woman to serve on the Ankeny City Council and served for 12 years. She was one of the founding forces behind the Ankeny Art Center and served as the board chair for over 30 years. Annette was the president of the Kirkendall Public Library Foundation and served as a representative of the Central Iowa Regional Drinking Water Commission for the city of Ankeny. She was an active member of the Ankeny First United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, and Ruth Circle. Annette also worked with Dave at Alpha One Commercial Real Estate. She was passionate about yoga and taught classes at the Ankeny YMCA, the Community Education Center, Balance Yoga Lounge, the Ankeny Art Center, and Yoga in the Park. Annette had many hobbies. She enjoyed being outdoors, tending her plant collection, and hosting tea parties, lunches, and parties with friends and family at her backyard swimming pool. She taught summer swimming lessons for many years. Annette competed in many 5k races, 5 triathlons, and rode in RAGBRAI. She was accomplished in the art techniques of sculpture, pastels, painting and pottery. She also made beautiful jewelry, which she gave as gifts and wore every day. She enjoyed traveling the world, cruises, scuba diving and beach vacations with her family. Annette had an appreciation for theatre and attended many plays and musicals at the Des Moines Civic Center with friends and family. Her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandsons were her pride and joy. Spending time with her grandsons was a special joy in her life. She enjoyed "Grandma Days" with Ranger and River, and traveling to California to visit Rook and Bishop. Annette is survived by her husband, David; children, Brian (Kristin), Peter, Mark, and Stephen (Anna) of Irvine, CA; four grandsons, Ranger, River, Bishop, and Rook. She is also survived by her sister, Louise (Rich) Van Bergen of Buffalo, MN; her brother, William (Maureen) Golliet of Hagerman, NM; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Herbert Golliet; and mother, Bonnie (Jamison) Golliet. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Memorial Services of Iowa, 4208 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Ankeny Art Center in loving memory of Annette at http://ankenyartcenter.com/support.html