Ann Ellerbrook may be the only member of Allisonville Christian Church (ACC) to be remembered for beating a dead turkey while kneeling on a table in her underwear. Those of us who were there will never forget it. It was part of the show every night during the Mud Creek production of Dearly Beloved, the first of four plays in which Ann played the outrageous Honey Rae Futrelle.
Ann was born a DOC/PK (Disciples of Christ Pastor’s Kid) in South Bend, Indiana, to Jim and Margaret Ellerbrook. Her Dad, Jim, was well known to many of us here at ACC and served five different DOC congregations during his 40 years as a pastor. Ann considers herself a lifelong learner, always trying to grow because of her parents who were eager students of life and committed Christians. She has two older brothers, Cliff and Niel.
Her family moved to Franklin, Indiana, when she was four years old and for ten years, she lived an idyllic childhood. It was a freer, more trusting time and Ann was “all over town”. Her parents often didn’t know where she was. Sometimes she was in the church kitchen sneaking communion wafers.
Ann attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, majoring in speech and theater. After graduation, Ann met and married her then husband, and they settled down in Wawaka and Ligonier, Indiana, northwest of Fort Wayne in Noble County. She has four children: Adam, Katie, Jordyn, and Reid. They have given her nine grandchildren. Her youngest son Reid was adopted at six months old from his native Korea.
Ann was an English teacher and theater director at Central Noble High School in Albion, Indiana. She then pursued a Master of Library Science degree at IU and became a media specialist. She taught computer and information literacy at Sunnyside Elementary and Belzer Middle School in Lawrence Township before retiring.
Twenty-two years ago, Ann joined the Mud Creek Players at the suggestion of ACC member Sarah Riester. Ann has directed at Mud Creek, is currently on the Board of Directors, and has appeared in numerous plays. ACC is her favorite audience whenever members come to Mud Creek on opening night. They laugh the loudest and applaud the longest.
She has three cats and a dog, all rescued animals. Ann loves to travel and has been to all fifty states. She also participated in a week long mission trip to New Mexico organized by Rich Michal and sponsored by ACC. Son Adam currently lives in The Netherlands, and she visits him there once or twice a year. Ann thrives on seeing our world, having also visited Canada, Mexico, several European countries, and Thailand.
Ann gives a shout out to her 97 year old Aunt Nene, Nela Holtz, an ACC member and a resident of Westminster Village asking us not to forget the invisible oldsters.
As her friend, I can say that when I think of Ann, I think of the words “funny and fine!”
-Kathie Meyer
