Ann Elizabeth Gilchrist

Ann Elizabeth Harbison Gilchrist, daughter of John Francis Harbison and Jane Elizabeth Harbison, was born March 14, 1933, in Iowa City, Iowa, and departed this life on August 3, 2024, at the age of 91.

Ann spent her youth in Keosauqua, Iowa, where she met her future husband, James Manning Gilchrist. After graduating from Van Buren High School, Ann attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for two years, then continued her education at the University of Iowa where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts in 1954.

Ann and Jim married on August 30, 1953, in Keosauqua, Iowa. After graduating from the University of Iowa, they moved to Park Forest, Illinois, where they raised their four children, Jim, Cyndi, Lisa, and Pam.

For most of her career, Ann was a teacher and a mentor at Indiana Elementary School in Park Forest. She was passionate about teaching, both at work and at home, but she also loved to learn. She herself went back to school and received a Master's in Education degree from Governors State University in 1975. At the age of 65, she retired from teaching. She and Jim enjoyed several years together traveling the world and the United States, and spending time with family and friends.

Ann was an active and enthusiastic member of the Infant Welfare Society, Stephens College Alumni Club, D.A.R., P.E.O., Faith United Protestant Church, and she served for many years on the Park Forest Library Board. She loved playing bridge, reading, gardening, antiquing, going to the opera and the symphony, walking and more walking, traveling, collecting art, and she adored being a grandmother and great-grandmother. Family traditions were important to Ann and she passed on so many wonderful traditions to her children and grandchildren. She remained an avid Hawkeye fan and was quite a collector of Hawkeye memorabilia.

Ann's loving husband, Jim, passed away in 2002. In 2005, she married Jack Uhlenhopp in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For many years, they spent their time living between Santa Fe and New Lenox, Illinois. She is survived by Jack; her son, James Manning (Maria) of Springfield, Illinois; her daughters, Cynthia Ann (David) of Plainfield, Illinois, Lisa Elizabeth (Matt) of Chicago, Illinois, and Pamela Jane (Joe) of Loveland, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Cullen, Greer, James, Aidan, Hailey, Jack, and Annie; and one great-granddaughter, Kelly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jane; her sister, Susan; and her brother, John.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Keosauqua United Methodist Church, followed immediately by internment in Fellows Cemetery. A gathering to celebrate Ann's life will be held at Hotel Manning from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.