Ann Sample

life story

A Child of God

Ann Sample was many things to many people in her life.

She was a daughter ... sister ... wife ... mother ... friend.

Foremost, however, Ann was the adopted child of God the Father, through her faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Obituary for Ann Sample

Ann Merryl Sample, 80, peacefully passed away in her sleep at The Rosemount Senior Living at Steeple Center on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Rosemount, Minnesota. Ann was in the care of Minnesota Hospice, Lakeville, Minnesota, for the last six weeks of her life. Her health had been declining for the past five years, accelerating after suffering a non-debilitating stroke on Memorial Day, 2025.

Ann was born June 4, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio, the third of three daughters. Growing up as a farm girl on Sweet Potato Ridge Road in Verona, Ohio, she often joked, “I was my Daddy’s only son,” as Ann worked the fields, driving the tractor, and a grain truck to the local elevators in the fall. She said she was only girl among the many boys at her high school who received approved absences to work in the fields during the harvest season. In a senior class of 18 students, Ann graduated from Verona High School in 1963. After graduation, she moved to Dayton to begin her working career.

She married Edward John Sample, Jr., in 1966, giving birth to their only child, Tamara (Tami) Ann Sample, later that year. The family moved to Apple Valley, Minnesota in 1975. They divorced in 1982.

As a single mother, Ann was employed at Personnel Decisions, International, moving up the corporate ladder to becoming a Senior Account Executive, selling psychological services. Her clients included government agencies such as Fannie Mae and the Tennessee Valley Authority, and corporations, including Medtronic, Radisson, Target, Allina, and Coca-Cola. Excelled in great customer service, building long-term relationships with clients, and receiving awards and letters of appreciation from them. After 19 years with PDI, Ann retired in 2000.

In retirement, she continued her passion for gardening, playing the piano and singing in her church choir and special music groups. Ann brought her business sense to many church committees, as well. One of her great joys was facilitating New Member Classes at Rosemount United Methodist Church (now The Well) for many years. Ann, with her maiden name being “Baker,” was an excellent baker and enjoyed making pies, and baking treats for her grand dog Bingo.

Ann met her future husband, Gerry, on a blind date, the night before the great Halloween blizzard of 1991. Being snowed in gave them the opportunity to talk for hours on the telephone over the next few days. They married on December 5, 1992.

When he was called into ministry, Ann applied her scrupulous attention to detail as she edited all but one of his seminary papers. While never desiring to be a pastor’s spouse, she employed the skills honed over her lifetime to become the consummate ministry partner. She played the piano for Sunday worship at one church, co-taught Confirmation classes at another one, serving Communion with her now-pastor husband, while assisting at funerals, weddings, being on committees together, and visiting with parishioners in their homes or healthcare settings.

Ann’s life-long faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior sustained her through life’s trials and tribulations, while enhancing the joys she experienced as a child of God.

Ann is survived by Gerald (Gerry) Vuchetich, her loving husband of 33 years; daughter Tamara (Tami) Ann Sample; and sister Dorthy Lentz. She is also survived numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends; and special family members John and Sheila Maddio, and godsons Noah Maddio and Micah Maddio. She loved cuddling with Bella, her Maltese-Shi Tzu puppy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Deo & Mabel Irene (Longenecker) Baker; sister Nancy Kiracofe; brothers-in-law Richard Kiracofe and Edwin Lentz; and former husband Edward John Sample, Jr.

The Celebration of Life Service for Ann is December 13 at United Methodist Church of Peace, 6345 Xerxes Avenue South, Richfield, Minnesota. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. with the service at 11:00 a.m. (C.S.T.) Pastor Jin Hur and Pastor Don Eslinger will officiate, and light refreshments will be served afterwards. Interment will be at Lebanon Cemetery, Apple Valley, Minnesota.

The service will be broadcast live for those who wish to attend online. To view the service: open YouTube and enter @umcofpeace into the search bar, and it should bring you to the livestream for the United Methodist Church of Peace. A slide show of photos will begin at 10:30 a.m.

memorial service

Celebration of Life Service

December 13, 2025

United Methodist Church-Peace 6345 Xerxes Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55423, USA

Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. with the service starting at 11:00 a.m. There will be light refreshments following the service in the Family Life Center.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services