Ann Buchkoe Fassbender, formerly of 622 N. Third Street, Marquette, passed away Tuesday evening, February 28, 2006, in Oak Brook, IL.

The daughter of the late Andrew and Anna (Donich) Buchkoe was born in Bessemer on April 15, 1907.  The oldest of nine siblings, she attended St. Sebastian Elementary School and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School.  She then enrolled at Northern Michigan College at which time was a state teacher’s college.  She later obtained a BA degree in Education.  She pursued graduate work at the University of Michigan.  Her teaching career began in the Washington School in Bessemer.  In 1932, she married Marvin Fassbender of Marquette, and one year later, they began their own business, the Fassbender Funeral Home.  Mrs. Fassbender continued her teaching career with ten years in Skandia and fifteen years in the Fisher Elementary School.

Her social activities included membership in the Marquette Golf and Country Club, St. Peter Cathedral Altar Society, Daughter’s of Isabella, Third Order of St. Francis, and four years as president of M.D.C.C.W in which she made frequent visits with the women of the parishes and led religious discussions.

Her retirement years were spent in Arizona and Florida.

She is survived by:

Two sons: Michael (Nancy) Fassbender and Basil “Butch” (Ellen) Fassbender of Marquette

One daughter: Janet K. Fassbender of Elmhurst, IL

Five grandsons: Michael (Olivia), Gregory and Christopher Fassbender of Grand Rapids; Eric (Melanie) Fassbender of Madison, WI; and Andrew “AJ” Fassbender of Marquette

Three great-granddaughters: Mya, Jenna, and Kara Fassbender of Grand Rapids

Three brothers: Basil of Wakefield; Raymond of Marquette; Gerard of Reno, NV

Several nieces and nephews. 

Preceding her in death were her husband, Marvin in 1983; a granddaughter-in-law, Heather Fassbender in 2005; two brothers, Andreas and Michael; and three sisters, Mary Jane Calabrese, Zita Dianda, and Jean Schwenk.

A Mass of Christian Burial and celebration of life for Ann Fassbender will be held at 3:00 pm, Monday, April 24, in St. Peter Cathedral with Rev. Msgr. Louis Cappo and Rev. Msgr. Jed Patrick concelebrating the Mass.  Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery.  A reception for family and friends will be held in the Banquet Room of Upfront and Company immediately following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a charity of choice or to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith c/o Rev. Lawrence Gauthier, 300 Rock Street, Marquette, MI 49855.