Ann Bunten

Oct. 16, 2018

 

Galena, Ill. - Ann Frances Bunten passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, while resting at home in Galena, Ill. 

There will be a family gathering held on Nov. 10, 2018, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the home of Tom and Cindy Gardner. In keeping with her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. The Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena is assisting the family. 

Ann attended Immaculate Conception Academy in Elma, Iowa. She married Kale Burdette Tibbitts of Charles City, Iowa in 1961. They divorced in 1970. She married Gary Vernon McLachlan in 1973. They moved with their children Kerry, Kim and Joe Tibbitts to the Chicago suburb of Northbrook. Gary legally adopted them in 1972. In 1983, Gary and Ann were divorced. She then married the love of her life, Hugh Bunten in 1985 in Evanston, Ill. The Gardner family was in attendance. 

Ann and Hugh moved to Harvard, Ill., where they helped their kids raise many grandkids in 1987. The couple retired to the Galena Territories in 2006. Galena was the dream home for Ann. 

She loved her family, her children and her husband, Hugh. She cared passionately for her daughter, Kimberley Ann, from 1998 until her death in 2009. She devoted herself to caring for Hugh’s mother, Ruth Elizabeth Bunten, until she passed in 2001. 

Ann truly enjoyed having family surround her. She loved to give gifts, homemaking and bird watching. She became a certified Master Gardener through the University of Illinois in 2005.  

She was employed by several large companies in Chicago-land during her professional career, including Allis Chalmers, Sara Lee, Central States Pension Company and CNA Insurance as a computer programmer and senior systems data analyst manager. 

The last 15 years of her career, she co-owned Canidae Canine Services with Hugh. She truly loved dogs and helping people to have good pups. 

Ann is survived by her husband of 32 years, Hugh Bunten of Galena; her eldest son, Kerry (Peppie) McLachlan and their three sons, Shawn Morgan, Ryan (Ashley) McLachlan  (great-granddaughters, Payton and Raylynn) and Matthew McLachlan; her youngest son Joseph (Lisa) McLachlan and their three children, Jennifer (Brian) Camp (great-grandchildren, Drew and Kendall), John (fiancé Hannah Grogan) McLachlan and Paige McLachlan; and by the sons of her late daughter, Kimberley, Ann, Derek (Eliza) Beattie (great-grandson, Blake), Jeffrey Stoddard (great-grandson, Noah) and Chris (Fili) Stoddard. She took into her family with great love Lisa Bunten; grandson, Tyler (Ana) Cole (great-grandchildren, William and Emma) and Michael (Cynthia, granddaughter, Audrey) Bunten. She is also survived by her best friend and sister, Mary Jane Gardner (Jerry) Palmersheim of Elma; eight brothers, Bill (Pepper) Gardner, Tom (Cindy) Gardner, Greg Gardner, Pat (Diane) Gardner, Nick (Terri) Gardner, Chuck (Karen) Gardner, Kevin (Mary Zajac) Gardner and Randy (Jeannie) Gardner; and many nieces and nephews. 

Ann was preceded in death by her father, George Gardner; her mother, Vivian Hermanson Gardner; her brother, Rick Gardner; her stepfather, John P. Gardner; her eldest brother, Jim Gardner; her daughter, Kimberley Ann Stoddard; and by Hugh’s daughter, Lisa Bunten Cole. 

Memorials may be directed to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at: ww5.komen.org/. Online condolences can be left at www.furlongfuneralchapel.com.