Ann Hall

Alice Ann Steele Ker Hall, (Annie Hall) age 80, died on Monday, October 15, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on November 10, 1937 in Warsaw, Indiana to George Arthur Steele and Winifred Foster Steele, the oldest of four children. Ann had a brilliant mind, which made school easy, but sometimes got her in trouble in her clever mischief-making with her friends and cousins. Her talent for music was readily apparent as a youngster - she played the piano well and was first chair clarinet in the high school band. Fascinated with medicine, Ann pursued a pharmaceutical degree at DePauw University, but suspended her studies to marry Charles Arthur Ker, also from Warsaw, in 1957, and the couple moved to Indianapolis, where he took a job with Eli Lily and Company. She gave birth to her first child, Kelly, in 1959, followed by Karen in 1963 and Kristin in 1965. In 1965, the Ker family moved back to Warsaw, where Charlie took a job as treasurer with Dalton Foundries. Ann was a multi-talented, creative mother. She loved making matching outfits for her three girls. She also passed on her culinary skills to her children, teaching them how to make well-balanced, flavorful meals before it became a trend. Ann’s life changed dramatically when she went to the organ loft after a Sunday service at First Presbyterian Church in Warsaw and remarked, “That looks like fun!” Organ lessons with Jesse Eschbach, Jr. ensued, and Ann went back to school to receive a degree in Music Education at I.U.- P.U. in Ft. Wayne, and then a Master’s degree in organ at Notre Dame in South Bend. During this time, she took the position of organist at the First Presbyterian Church, and later became choir director there. Ann and Charlie divorced in 1978. Over the next four decades, her talents expanded to serve in countless ways. Though her degrees were in organ, she found a true passion as a choir director that followed her to her final days. As choir director, she served at Redeemer Lutheran in Warsaw, churches in Huntington, IN, Palos Heights, IL, and several churches in Springfield, IL - Second Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, and Our Savior Lutheran Church. At most of these churches, she also directed the handbell and children’s choirs. She also taught choir, voice, and piano at Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield. She started the Springfield Children’s Choir, which performed with her direction and choreography frequently in the area, including the Illinois State Fair. She was a member of the Illinois Symphony Board, and endowed a scholarship for a promising Sacred Heart Griffin student in music each year. She was on the faculties of Huntington College, and Lincoln Land Community College, teaching everything from music theory to art history. A gifted writer as well, she served as concert reviewer for the Warsaw Times Union and later, the Illinois State Journal-Register. Throughout this time, Ann composed choral and organ music, and many of her works were published. For more than 25 years, she composed a new Christmas Carol every year to send to friends and family as a Christmas card. In 2003, Ann married her longtime friend, Latham Hall. She and Latham traveled extensively, taking Viking cruises to Russia and China. Latham passed away in 2006. She continued her travels with her dear friend, Orlando Krueger, taking cruises to Israel and Egypt, and the Baltic. In 2013, she moved to Kansas City to live with her daughter, Kelly, and husband Martin Hackleman. She continued to be active with her music - singing in a church choir, composing, and attending American Guild of Organist meetings and concerts with Kelly. Ann will be remembered as an imaginative, artistic, and amiable person to the many organizations and churches she served. To her close friends and family, she was fun-loving, witty, and generous to a fault. Besides her music, she had a passion for learning, and read extensively. She also loved collecting fine art and gemstones. Her strong Christian faith showed in everything she did, and helped her endure the extreme pain of a ruptured disc for the last five years of her life. Left to honor Ann and remember her love are Ann’s siblings - Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Steele Hall and husband, Dean, George (Bud) A. Steele, Jr., and wife MaryAnn, Charles (Chuck) Foster Steele and wife Nanette;  three daughters - Kelly Lynne Ker Hackleman and husband Martin, Karen Elizabeth Ker Grooms, and husband Thomas, Kristin Ann Ker Bruton and husband David; six grandchildren - Tommy Grooms, Molly Grooms, Michael DeVuyst, Daniel DeVuyst, Sydney Bruton, and Sam Bruton, and five nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 9:00-11:00 a.m. at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel in Warsaw, followed by a service at 11:00 officiated by Pastor Kip Cone, and then a burial service at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ann’s name to the E.M. Skinner Opus 190 Organ Fund at Grand Avenue Temple UMC in Kansas City. http://www.grandavenuetempleumc.org/donate/