Ann Beelman Knowlton
Ann Beelman Knowlton, a longtime resident of Ajijic, died Friday, July 1. She was 91.
Ann was born March 21, 1931 in Columbus, Ohio to Floyd and Alice (McCormick) Beelman. She was raised in her mother’s home state of Kansas in the Topeka area, and went on to graduate with a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Kansas.
In 1953, she married Robert (Bob) Knowlton and they soon moved to Denver, Colorado where their three sons, Doug, Rick and Steven, were born and raised.
Following her divorce from Bob in 1975 and desiring to leave the large city, she moved to Aspen, Colorado. There she was the Director of Community Health Services for Pitkin County. Originally a visiting nurse service, this organization was expanded as the need for low-income health services increased. Later, she became a nurse practitioner and moved to Estes Park, Colorado, where she ended her nursing career working for the YMCA of the Rockies.
After being an avid skier, golfer and tennis player with a love of sports in general, she decided to leave the Colorado mountains for a warmer climate. She spent several years traveling the United States looking for a small town with a positive energy similar to Colorado mountain towns. During her search for a place with water and a high dry climate altitude, but warm winters, she was invited by a friend to visit. One trip was enough to convince her this was where she would retire. Moving to Ajijic in 1979, Ann bought a property in the Chula Vista area with a lake view and an active neighborhood of U.S., Canadian and Mexican residents.
Close by was St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, which became her church home and where she sang in the choir for 20 years. Ann volunteered her time on the church vestry and was also an acolyte. She was also proud to have been a member of the “Los Cantantes del Lago” community choir, where her passion for music and singing blossomed.
Ann enjoyed being a part of the Ajijic community, supporting and being involved with many local charities while also entertaining family and friends from the United States. Her final home was Casa Nostra Assisted Living in Riberas del Pilar, where she was close to St. Andrew’s, Chula Vista and the Lakeside area she had come to love.
Ann leaves behind her three sons, Douglas (Lora) of Littleton and Rick of Aurora, both in Colorado; Steven (Cindy) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; eight grandchildren, Joshua Knowlton of Aurora, Kira Knowlton of Glenwood Springs, Bryce Raber of Grand Junction, Thomas Knowlton of Denver, Jake Knowlton of Denver, all in Colorado; Mackenzie (John) Feldhacker of Hawarden, Iowa; Will Knowlton and Katie Knowlton of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and one great granddaughter Joanna Feldhacker of Hawarden, Iowa; a brother Scott Beelman (Bonnie) of Sun Lakes, Arizona; and former daughter-in-law Jennifer Knowlton of Aurora, Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place Tuesday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. Lunch will be provided by St. Andrew’s.
Donations in Ann’s memory may be made to Los Cantantes del Lago. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.
Peter William Soderman
Pete Soderman died June 24 at home in San Antonio Tlayacapan after a long and courageous battle with illness.
Pete was a native New Englander who fled the cold and snow, moving to coastal North Carolina where he owned a computer consulting business. Seeking a change, Pete and his wife Gethyn ventured into Mexico and settled at lakeside in 2010.
Pete was active in the Lake Chapala Society as a library volunteer and past board member. His interest in helping others manifested in starting a SMART recovery group, and in the books, articles and pod posts he wrote.
His mantra was, “To live my life in such a manner as to increase the total of joy in the world while decreasing the total of misery. Continue learning as much as I can absorb concerning the predicaments that face all life on earth, and share that knowledge as widely as I can for as long as I’m able.”
He leaves his wife, Gethyn, in San Antonio, children Scott (Barbara,) Daniel (Alison,) Nathan (Elizabeth,) Jude (Michael,) Hannah (Tyler) and eight grandchildren.