Anna Mae Lakes

Anna Mae Lakes of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, Indiana passed away peacefully in her sleep into the presence of the Lord at 10:15 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023, at Grace Village Healthcare at the age of 91. 

She was born on February 1, 1932, in Mason, Ohio to Belle (Hamilton) Putnam and Andrew Jackson Putnam, the second youngest of 9 children.  In 1952 she married Clayton H. Lakes, though it ended in divorce, they shared the love of their children. 

Ann graduated from Mason High School as the Valedictorian of her class and had a semester of nurses training.  She worked various jobs throughout her life as a secretary and at one time was a reporter for the Delaware Gazette of Delaware, Ohio.  Ann loved music, played the piano and once sang with the choir at a Billy Graham crusade in Columbus, Ohio.  She loved to read and was involved with Women’s Bible Study Fellowship for a time, and loved to watch Jeopardy.  She volunteered for many years for the Voters Registration in Columbus, Ohio.  Ann was a member of the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church. 

Ann is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth (Timothy) Thompson (Anderson, Indiana) and Lynn (Dr. Daryl) Sanders (Galion, Ohio); one sister, Glenna Booker (Nashville, TN); sister-in-law, Ann Putnam, widow of her brother, Bob (Phillipsburg, Ohio); grandchildren, Carley (Ray) Reichard, Daniel (Melissa) Clemens, Michelle (Kevin) Gniazdowski, Danielle Sander, Christopher Thompson, Joel (Charlotte) Thompson, Weston Clemens; great-grandchildren, Roy Reichard, Suzanne Reichard, Caroline Reichard, Luke Gniazdowski, Sloane Gniazdowski, Valerie Gniazdowski, Peter Gniazdowski, Quinn Clemens, Eli Clemens, Luke Clemens, Emmie Clemens; nieces and nephews, Phyllis (Ghiels) Marburger, Bob Ghiels, Carol (Putnam) Lowell, Jack (Debbie) Putnam, Jaqueline (Kurt) VanMeeveren, Raylie Maddox, Anita (Putnam) Scholz, Pat Putnam, Paul Putnam, Emily Booker, Robert Booker, Greg Simms, Andy Putnam, and Cindy Putnam. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Jane (Lakes) Clemens, brothers Howard Putnam, Toby Putnam, Jack Putnam, Bob Putnam and Jim Putnam, sisters Wyllodean (Putnam) Walker, Phyllis (Putnam) Maddox. 

Friends and family may visit on Thursday, July 6, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Rd, Warsaw, Indiana.  Ann’s life will be celebrated with a graveside service at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2023, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mason, Ohio.