Ann Moline Schaeffer

Ann Moline Schaeffer, age 94, passed away on January 3, 2021 at her home in Spring Valley,
California. She was born April 9, 1926 in Hammarö, Värmland, Sweden to Carl and Alvina
(Olsson) Johnson. She was the second of two daughters. The family emigrated to the US in
1926 and lived with Carl’s cousin, Gust Ek and family, in Stanchfield, Minnesota for about a
year. They relocated to the Chicago area for employment, leaving infant Ann with the Ek
family, who lovingly raised her on their farm. There, her sister Minerva taught her to play piano,
which she enjoyed throughout her life. She began attending Stanchfield Baptist Church, where
as a young child, she met Christ, and as a teenager, she met her future husband, Harold Moline.
She married Harold when he was discharged from the Army after WWII. They lived in
Stanchfield and Andree, having two children, Meredith and Michael, before moving to the San
Diego, California area for employment, and while living there two more daughters, Kay and
Linda, were born. Ann had begun her career working for Northwestern Bell as a teenager in
Braham, MN. She continued that work in San Diego at Pacific Bell, later to become AT&T,
until her retirement.
She loved being involved with people, and she demonstrated her gift of hospitality by frequently
hosting guests at dinner or overnight. Music was always present in her home, whether through
the piano students she taught or the many groups who practiced for church services at Casa de
Oro Baptist Church, where she led the choir and was the organist, or at Mt. Miguel (Grace)
Covenant Church.
Summers were spent in Minnesota, where she and Harold, her husband of 62 years had lifelong
friends. After Harold’s death, she married Calvin Schaeffer, also a lifelong friend from
Stanchfield, Minnesota in May of 2009, and she gained another family.
She was predeceased by parents Carl and Alvina Johnson (Sorbo) and sister Agnes Nilsen,
Parents Gust and Anna Ek and their children: Rudolph (Lempe), Evert (Margaret), Minerva,
Vivian (Philip) Beaudoin, Harold (Dolly), Albert (Gayle), and Sidney. She was also predeceased
by Harold’s siblings Margaret (Wilmer) Olson, Duane (Judy) Smith, and Clark Moline.
She is survived by her children Meredith (Leslie) Gerdin of Cambridge, MN, Michael (Patti)
Moline of Pahrump, NV, Kay (William) Hofer of El Cajon, CA, and Linda (Terry) Root of Lake
Orion, MI, 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by her husband Calvin Schaeffer and five step-children: Deborah (Jim)
Hanson, Claudia (Bill) Elsham, Lloyd (Lori), Robert, and Lori Vonderharr, along with 10
grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and by two sisters-in-law, Ramona Fredin and Judi
Mains.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to:
Grace Covenant Church
https://www.gracecovchurch.net/
or
Sharp Hospice
https://give.sharp.com/tribute-hospice