Ann Katherine Bean (Klinefelter)

Ann Katherine Klinefelter Bean of 2801 Laurel Park Drive, Saginaw, MI died September 7, 2021, at her home. Ann was a fantastic mother, a wonderful wife and daughter, a great sister, and an outstanding educator. She loved polka dots, the color hot pink, the Golden Girls, drinks on the beach, and being a little silly. She was born November 24, 1971, to Donna Williams Klinefelter and Gerald R. Klinefelter in Midland, MI. She attended Midland Public Schools going to Sugnet Elementary, Jefferson Intermediate, and graduating from HH Dow High School. She went on to attend Michigan State University where in 1995 she completed her teaching credentials and Bachelor of Arts Degree in education. Later she earned her Master of Arts degree from MSU in curriculum and teaching. While in college she was on the Dean’s list, and she coordinated and managed an after-school program for children where she oversaw and trained coordinators and volunteers. She also tutored students in reading and writing. Her love of children and ability and willingness to help was always a part of her.

Ann began her teaching career at DeZavala Elementary School in Baytown, TX in 1995-1997. She joined the Essexville-Hampton staff in 1997 where she taught Spanish, and then second grade through the 2020-2021 school year. She was a member and representative of the Essexville Education Association, Michigan Reading Association, the National Science Teachers Association, Michigan Foreign Language Association and the Texas Classroom Teaching Association. She served as the Coordinator Chair of the School Improvement Committee for Northwestern Accreditation in 2006. She was a caring professional who saw children’s needs and used her own means to provide for those needs. Ann was always ready to listen and had a way to make you feel important, and she would help in whatever way she could.

Ann married Alan R. Bean on July 23, 2005, on the shore of Lake Michigan. She loved Lake Michigan and called the shore and Michigan waters her Happy Place. Her only child, Andrew A. Bean, born on February 10, 2009, was the apple of her eye and she was totally devoted to him. Ann had many interests which she shared with her family and son: her love of downhill skiing, the water, swimming, riding the Sea-Doo, the out of doors in general, travel and shopping. She studied and traveled in Mexico and Costa Rica. She loved her trips to Venezuela, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland, but especially noteworthy were the last two trips of her life with her family to Aruba and St. Maarten.

She was a sweet, gentle soul with sparkling, big blue eyes, and a smile that would light up the room. She was deeply caring and thoughtful and practiced the true definition of unconditional love and support. She will be deeply and profoundly missed in so many ways—bringing family and friends together, watching her son continue to achieve and find his path in life, and engaging in life’s joys and special moments. Surviving are her husband, Alan Bean, and her son, Andrew Bean of Saginaw, MI, her parents, Donna and Jerry Klinefelter of Kewadin, MI, her sister Lisa Klinefelter Blundell (Alan Blundell) of San Mateo, CA, her Aunt, Dorothy Klinefelter, of Madison, WI, her sister-in-law, Janet Lee (Greg Lee) of Grayling, MI, brothers in law, Ken Bean of Saginaw and James Bean (Valerie Bean) of Beaverton, OR, and her special lifetime friend, Michael Weller of San Francisco, CA.

Arrangements are being carried out by Case Funeral Home of Saginaw. There will be a Celebration of Life for her on Thursday, September 23, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Andersen Enrichment Center, 120 Ezra Rust Drive, Saginaw, MI, 48601. She will be buried at Torch Lake Township Lakeview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mrs. Bean’s Box of Love or to the American Cancer Society. Mrs. Bean’s Box of Love is a memorial fund available to teachers through Essexville-Hampton Public Schools to provide money for specific items for students and families in need. Checks can be made out to EHPS with a note to Mrs. Bean’s Box of Love and should be sent to the Mark Jaffe Building, 303 Pine St., Essexville, MI, 48732, or donations can be given through gofundme.com by searching Mrs. Bean’s Box of Love from the main screen.