Kay Patricia Ammerman, 82

Feb. 2, 1929 - March 10, 2011

Patty Ammerman passed away the morning of March 10, 2011, at the age of 82 with her family by her side.

She was born to Forest and Elma Swank on Feb. 2, 1929, in Coeur d'Alene. Patty grew up on the shores of southeast Hayden Lake at the family cabin crafted by her father, which they all took part in building together. She loved fishing, camping, swimming and basking in the sun at the cabin.

Her high school years were filled with her love and commitment to twirling in the high school band, playing the viola and piano, and taking the lead in the school plays.

On April 11, 1948, she married Richard W. Ammerman and they lived their first years of marriage in Kellogg. They had two children, Steve and Claudia, and in 1956 moved to Sandpoint where she lived until moving back to Coeur d'Alene in the late '70s.

Patty ran a private kindergarten in Sandpoint for many years and loved and enjoyed every student that she taught. She was an amazing teacher and an inspiration to her students. She suffered much paralysis after having three aneurysms when she was 30 years of age, but that did not stop her from doing what she loved to do. She surprised us all and kept going with great perseverance and without a complaint. After teaching she spent years fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis on the read-a-thon program in all the schools in North Idaho, working with the students. She loved her work and the traveling that went with it.

Her friends were such an important part of her life, and shared in all the things she loved most.

Patty was a model of strength and humor for all those years and was always a joy to be with. She will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother, sister Nancy Jo Hunskor, husband Richard and son Stephen.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Claudia and Henke Tuppe; nephew Mark Hunskor and family; grandchildren, John (Becky) Ammerman, Erik (Preethi) Boone, Elly Ahner and Jessica (Paul) Fischer; great-grandchildren Zachary and Levi Ammerman, Davis, Ella and Hazel Fischer.

We want to thank all the wonderful "family" she had at Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living for all their love and care while she was there.

A summer memorial service will be held in Coeur d'Alene, to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, we would ask a donation to Hospice at Kootenai Medical Center. Thank you for all you do!

We will miss you my Momma...

English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, has been entrusted with the final arrangements.