Ann Rafert

Ann Lucile Rafert, 81, of Holyoke, died March 2, 2023, at the Haxtun Extended Care Unit. Ann was born to Glenn and Esther Smith on Oct. 3, 1941, in Greeley. She was the second of four children. 

Ann attended a rural school south of Windsor for first and second grade, then spent the next 10 years attending school in Windsor, graduating from Windsor High School in 1959. She attended Colorado A&M (now CSU) for one year and then transferred to Colorado State College (now UNC) in Greeley and earned her bachelor’s degree in education in 1963. 

Ann accepted her first teaching position as a sixth grade teacher in Holyoke in the fall of 1963. She continued to teach in the Holyoke School system until she retired as a high school math teacher in 1996. Her enjoyment of math was passed on to her son and grandkids. 

 On Aug. 18, 1968, Ann married Vern Rafert at the Methodist Church in Windsor. They lived on their farm northwest of Holyoke during their 54 years of marriage. 

She sat on many boards and was active with numerous community and church organizations. She was talented at crafting, canning, baking, sewing, crocheting and sharing her love of these hobbies with others. Many curtains, blankets, Halloween costumes, wedding gowns, hats, scrapbooks, angel food cake, brownies, cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls were made with love by Ann. While she was able, she loved spending time with her three grandchildren, both in Denver and at the farm.

 She was preceded in death by her mother Esther, father Glenn and brother Duane.

She is survived by her husband Vern of Holyoke; their son Tim and wife Mary, and three grandchildren, Zach, Ben and Abby, of Lakewood; sister June Nielsen of Hastings, Nebraska; sister Lois and husband Allen Rafert of Amherst; and many nieces and nephews.

 The funeral service was held March 7 at Zion Lutheran Church in Holyoke. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zion Lutheran Church or The Lutheran Hour. 

Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.