Ann Marie Wind

1939 - 2025

Ann Marie (Lee) Wind

September 11, 1939 - September 3, 2025

Ann went to be with the Lord after a 3 ½ year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Almost three years of that time was spent at Prairie Bluffs Senior Living in Eden Prairie, Minn., near daughter, Sarah. Prior to her move to Prairie Bluffs and Memory Care, Ann spent 11 years living in Winthrop, Minn., near daughter, Mary.

Ann was born in Breckenridge, Minn., to John and Amanda (Hensel) Lee. After high school, she attended one year of teacher training and taught in a one room school for two years before her marriage on September 25, 1960, to Rev. Charles Wind. In nearly 35 years of marriage, Charles and Ann served Missouri Synod Lutheran parishes in Bagley, Minn.; Las Cruces, N.M.; Wellsburg, Iowa; Elk River, Minn.; Lester Prairie, Minn.; and Claremont, M.N. When Charles retired, they moved to Fergus Falls (to be closer to Ann's mother) where Charles served as vacancy pastor at small churches in Elizabeth and Friberg. (Ann's family lived on a farm near Friberg from 1945-49.)

Ann trusted Jesus since her youth. She spent her life raising six children, being a pastor's wife, serving as a Bible study teacher and in LWML and being a prayer warrior. She also spent some time working in retail. For more than 20 years, she worked as a home health aide, gently serving the elderly and infirm. She is most fondly remembered for her love of people, love of God's word, and her poetry.

Preceded in death by her husband; Ann was a widow for 31 years. She took up scrapbooking and tried to make a book for each of her 14 grand-children. She loved gardens and enjoyed gardening, reading, going to auctions and gathering with friends. Ann was able to travel a bit (with scrapbooks to prove it), most notably to China, where son, John was a missionary.

Ann was also preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Rev. Henry and Ella Wind; her husband's siblings, Rev. Robert Wind and Margery Wind; and her four siblings, Robert Lee, Bonnie Shaheen, Donald and Alan Lee.

Mourning the loss of a wonderful mother are Ann's children, Beth (Steven) Carini of Rochester, N.Y., Mary (Kevin) Pierson, Leah (Kyle) McGlade of Fort Mill, S.C., Andy (Laurel Rudd) Wind of Waterloo, Iowa, John (Rachel) Wind of Lakewood, Colo., and Sarah (Eric) Richens. Her precious grandchildren who are missing their beloved Gramma include Matt, Chris, Joel, Amanda, Anna, Caylie, Isaac, Julian, Clara Anne, Chloe, Christin, Charis, Lucy and Catherine. Ann was also great-grandmother to five: Elliana, Thomas, Maria, Harley Ann and Charlie.

The memorial service, followed by fellowship time, will be held Nov. 1, 2025, at Winthrop Evangelical Covenant Church, 107 3rd Street W, Winthrop, Minn., at 2 p.m.. A private family burial will take place in Fergus Falls at a later date. Memories can be left for the family on the website at: www.obituaries.nationalcremation.com.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the many caregivers at Prairie Bluffs Memory Care and Brighton Hospice for the loving and compassionate care to Ann.

"She's so alive and greeting all in heaven that she meets. Her life goes on, refreshingly, Her memory here, is sweet." (Ann Wind, 2011) "Yes, You are gracious, glorious and true, We have no emptiness when we're in You, Jesus, I trust You, I'm in Your hands, Whatever is coming, in Jesus I stand." (AW, 2001)