Ann Elizabeth (Bogaard) Howard of Crete, NE died peacefully at home on December 19, 2023, with her husband Ed and son Christopher "Howie" nearby.

She was born on March 23, 1946 in Waterloo, Iowa to Harvey and Donna Bogaard, the fourth of seven children - Brant, Sue, Jane, Ann, Mark, Mary, and Jon - and grew up in Humboldt, Iowa.  Ann earned her degree in education from Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD) and the University of Iowa.  While taking post-graduate coursework at the University of Nebraska she met and eventually married Mahlon Edward "Ed" Howard on May 22, 1971.  Ann and Ed raised two children in Crete, Christopher Lee "Howie" and Mary Elizabeth.

She taught for Head Start, North District 18, Red Brick School (District 87) (both near Crete and some of the last one-room schoolhouses in Nebraska!), Crete Public Schools, and Dorchester Public Schools, imparting a love of reading to generations of students.  Later in her career she mentored younger teachers through Doane University, staying in touch with many of them for years.  She was a member of and passionate volunteer for many local organizations including the Friends of the Crete Public Library, P.E.O. International, First Congregational United Church of Christ, the Fortnightly club of Crete, the Prairie Dolls sewing group, and more.

Ann loved reading, quilting, music, cooking, being with family and friends, and most of all, caring for others.  She held an almost impossibly large number of people in her heart and mind, and was always finding little somethings to give them.  (She didn't mind if a treasure was given "a new beginning" via re-gifting or upcycling, either!)

A service of remembrance and celebration will be held in the spring.  In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ann's memory to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/ .