Ann Heather Heidrich

Ann Heather Heidrich, 77, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, surrounded by family at her home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ann was born on November 21, 1947, in Lawrence, Kansas. After graduating from Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kansas, in 1965, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Kansas in 1970 and later obtained a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Adams State College in 1999.

Ann moved to Colorado in 1979, where she started a family and spent the remainder of her life. She worked tirelessly and selflessly to provide for her children, who were her greatest joy. She never missed a game, concert, banquet, or any event in which they participated, always putting their needs above her own. In addition to raising her own children, Ann opened her heart and home to several special needs children, providing long-term foster care to those who had difficulty finding placement families.

Her passion for helping children extended beyond her home and into her career as an educator. Over the course of her 28-year teaching career, Ann worked at Bert Nash School in Atchison, Kansas, and in both Pueblo, Colorado School Districts 60 and 70. However, it was at Rye High School in Rye, Colorado, where she spent the majority of her career and eventually retired as a special education and English teacher. At Rye, she played a vital role in establishing adult life-transition programs for special needs students as a co-founder of the district’s Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Transition Team. She was also instrumental in implementing the Systematic, Structured Reading Program district-wide. In 2013, Ann’s dedication as a teacher was recognized when she was nominated as a finalist for Colorado Teacher of the Year by her colleagues and students. She retired from teaching in 2015 and moved to Colorado Springs to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Ann had a deep passion for writing, reading, art, and photography. She covered high school women’s sports for her local newspaper, writing weekly articles and capturing photographs of their events.  A lifelong sports fan, she loved watching Kansas Jayhawks basketball, the Denver Broncos, and most recently, the Colorado Rockies. Ann’s memory will be cherished by her children: Levi Heidrich and wife Heather, Katie Graf and husband Richard, Matthew Heidrich and wife Megan, and Joel Heidrich and wife April. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: McKenzie Graf, Cooper Heidrich, Piper Heidrich,Hailey Graf, Penelope Graf, Isaiah Heidrich, Zoey Graf, Zachary Heidrich, Jack Heidrich, and Liliana Heidrich, as well as her sister Jane Hoehn and brother John Heather.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy Heather.

Her family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff at New Day Cottages – Turner House for their incredible care and compassion during Ann’s battle with Alzheimer’s. We could not have asked for better people to love and care for her during this time.

In lieu of flowers, any donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. https://alzfdn.org

Please join family and friends to celebrate Ann’s life on Saturday February 22nd, 2025 from 10am-Noon at the Black Forest Community Club, 12530 Black Forest Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80908. Eulogies and readings will be read from 10:10am-10:30am, with visitation from 10:30am-Noon. Attire is non-formal.