Ann E Sieving-Erickson

Ann Elizabeth Sieving - Erickson, 80, passed away May 31, 2022.

Ann Elizabeth Sieving was born on March 31, 1942, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to Eldor Christian Sieving, and Martha Albertina (Wuerffel) Sieving. Eldor was the principal at St. Paul's Lutheran School. Ann was born on the Tuesday of Holy Week, so, rather than be at the hospital, her father stayed at church to rehearse the children's choir for Easter.

The family moved to Winfield Kansas in 1951, and Ann grew up playing the viola, and piano, and organ. She graduated from high school at St. John's Academy, and began classes at St. John's college, before her family moved to Chicago in 1961. Ann completed her BS at Concordia Teachers College, River Forrest in 1964. She taught in Lutheran Schools, where she also played the organ, in Michigan, New York, and Illinois. Then, in 1969, Ann completed the first Master's degree in Early Education from any LCMS college, at Concordia River Forrest.

She was an innovator in many ways. Ann started the early education program at Concordia College in St. Paul, MN. She also helped to set up the first multiply-handicapped preschool for the city of Minneapolis, MN. In the process, she learned Sign Language, and became an early figure in the "baby signs" movement, teaching her daughter Lisa to sign when she was a baby, and writing a book with her, giving the first hundred+ signs that babies will use.

One of the first women to take CPE training, Ann met Rev. Ronald Erickson, the CPE supervisor and chaplain at Midway Hospital in St. Paul, MN. Ron and Ann were married on August 24, 1980, in Riverside IL, at the church where Ann's mother played the organ, at the end of a Sunday morning church service.

After they moved to Olathe, KS, Ann continued to train early education teachers. She wrote textbooks on Fostering the Language Development of Young Children and on Children's Literature for Young Children. On the occasion of her 70th birthday, she received an honorary Doctorate of Christian Education, in recognition of her contributions to the field.

Ann continued to play the piano and organ, subbing at a number of churches in the area, and training up her daughter to be a church musician. Ann wrote descants and countermelodies for Lisa to play on her flute with congregational hymn singing, surprised her daughter with new music when Lisa would get “stuck in a rut” with practicing, and accompanied her to “I”s at state contest every year. She also enjoyed singing (and getting her daughter involved) with Immanuel’s Bach Cantatas, and MNU’s yearly presentation of Händel’s Messiah, in addition to participating in and leading other choirs, bell choirs, and children’s choirs.

Ann was also involved in Deaf ministry, leading Bible studies, coordinating church services, writing Sign Language poems, and writing devotional materials. She particularly had a gift for writing Bible stories in “signable English,” making it easier to read and sign for Deaf folks of all ages.

Ann is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth [Lisa] Erickson; her Brother Paul (and Pam) Sieving, four step-sons: Dan (and Dawn) Erickson, Steve (and Beng Choo) Erickson, Jeff Erickson, and Randy (and Ann) Erickson; two nephews: Theodore Sieving, and Matthew (and Lia) Sieving; and seven grandchildren: Hannah Erickson, Caleb (and Nina) Erickson, Wesley Erickson, Kirsten Erickson, Matt Erickson, Ian Erickson, and Emily Erickson.

Visitation will be 10AM, with services to follow at 11AM, Tuesday, June 7 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; Burial at Concordia Cemetery, Hammond, Indiana on June 30, 2022.  Family and friends to meet at LaHayne Funeral Home located at 6955 Southeastern Avenue Hammond, IN at 11:00 AM to directly process to Concordia Cemetery.

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