Obituary for Ann Eleise Trantow
Ann Eleise Wiegardt was born in Nahcotta, Washington on January 20, 1928 to Adolph and Lesa Wiegardt and passed away due to natural causes on May 1, 2020. Ann was the middle child with an older sister, Susie, and a younger brother, Dobby, Jr.
Ann was raised at home in Nahcotta/Ocean Park, Washington, and she grew up working hard on the shores of the Willapa Bay, and in the family-owned cannery, packing clams and oysters.
She went to college at WSU and joined Delta Gamma, where she was recruited into the sorority’s founding pledge class by Pat Spohn Stansfield. A die-hard Cougar and Delta Gamma, Ann always put her WSU beanie on the front door for Thanksgiving’s Apple Cup weekend, and attended a lifetime of DG sister reunions.
Ann earned a degree in Education from WSU and taught school in Vancouver, WA. Ann met Dr. John Trantow, a talented young physician from Kelso, WA. They married and then left the rain of the coast for the sun of Quincy. Ann and John raised four kids at the family home one mile north of Quincy, all of whom graduated from Quincy High and the UW. Dr. John and the kid’s UW loyalties made for fun banter at family get-togethers. Ann and John had a fabulous circle of friends in Quincy and surrounding towns and were grateful for the friendships and professional relationships they enjoyed in the community.
Ann enjoyed nature and was an avid bird watcher. Ann and John put a lot of miles into birding, boating on Lake Roosevelt, along with many other locations, and enjoyed learning about the geology of Central Washington. They also enjoyed sports with their kids as a family, fishing, hunting, water and snow skiing, and playing tennis – Ann was solid on the slopes of Mission Ridge and on the tennis courts. While John was a busy physician, Ann was a busy homemaker, and they are survived by their four children, Lynn Trantow of East Wenatchee, Dr. Michael Trantow (wife, Lynn Krayer Trantow) of Wenatchee, Leslie Trantow Tarbert (husband, Dan Tarbert) of East Wenatchee and Janice Trantow Merlino (husband, Greg Merlino) of Seattle. Ann’s grandchildren are Patrick Tarbert, Sarah Barnes (husband, Joel Barnes), Rebecca Tarbert, Emily Oliver (husband, Mike Oliver), Monica Trantow, Claire Anderson, Sophia Merlino, Jane Merlino, and her great grandchildren, twins Kaia & Beckett Oliver and Sienna Barnes. Ann is also survived by her younger brother Dobby (wife, Lila Wiegardt), in Ocean Park.
Sadly, John passed away in 2009, but Ann was lucky to have a large network of friends in Quincy to remain at the family home for many years. She stayed busy with the Presbyterian Church, knitting, Senior Center, Erratics Group, bird watching, book group, Habitat for Humanity, you name it – she loved people and always stayed busy!
Ann moved to a house in Sunrise East in East Wenatchee to be close to her children and receive extended care. Ann passed away peacefully, with beauty and grace, in her East Wenatchee home surrounded by family. She is now flying with the birds, reuniting with family past and friends, and looking at all the stray cats she saved.
Memorials can be made to the Quincy Reiman-Simmons House or the Quincy Senior Center.
Please leave a memory for the family or sign their online guestbook at www.scharbachs.com.
Scharbach’s Columbia Funeral Chapel, Quincy is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ann was raised at home in Nahcotta/Ocean Park, Washington, and she grew up working hard on the shores of the Willapa Bay, and in the family-owned cannery, packing clams and oysters.
She went to college at WSU and joined Delta Gamma, where she was recruited into the sorority’s founding pledge class by Pat Spohn Stansfield. A die-hard Cougar and Delta Gamma, Ann always put her WSU beanie on the front door for Thanksgiving’s Apple Cup weekend, and attended a lifetime of DG sister reunions.
Ann earned a degree in Education from WSU and taught school in Vancouver, WA. Ann met Dr. John Trantow, a talented young physician from Kelso, WA. They married and then left the rain of the coast for the sun of Quincy. Ann and John raised four kids at the family home one mile north of Quincy, all of whom graduated from Quincy High and the UW. Dr. John and the kid’s UW loyalties made for fun banter at family get-togethers. Ann and John had a fabulous circle of friends in Quincy and surrounding towns and were grateful for the friendships and professional relationships they enjoyed in the community.
Ann enjoyed nature and was an avid bird watcher. Ann and John put a lot of miles into birding, boating on Lake Roosevelt, along with many other locations, and enjoyed learning about the geology of Central Washington. They also enjoyed sports with their kids as a family, fishing, hunting, water and snow skiing, and playing tennis – Ann was solid on the slopes of Mission Ridge and on the tennis courts. While John was a busy physician, Ann was a busy homemaker, and they are survived by their four children, Lynn Trantow of East Wenatchee, Dr. Michael Trantow (wife, Lynn Krayer Trantow) of Wenatchee, Leslie Trantow Tarbert (husband, Dan Tarbert) of East Wenatchee and Janice Trantow Merlino (husband, Greg Merlino) of Seattle. Ann’s grandchildren are Patrick Tarbert, Sarah Barnes (husband, Joel Barnes), Rebecca Tarbert, Emily Oliver (husband, Mike Oliver), Monica Trantow, Claire Anderson, Sophia Merlino, Jane Merlino, and her great grandchildren, twins Kaia & Beckett Oliver and Sienna Barnes. Ann is also survived by her younger brother Dobby (wife, Lila Wiegardt), in Ocean Park.
Sadly, John passed away in 2009, but Ann was lucky to have a large network of friends in Quincy to remain at the family home for many years. She stayed busy with the Presbyterian Church, knitting, Senior Center, Erratics Group, bird watching, book group, Habitat for Humanity, you name it – she loved people and always stayed busy!
Ann moved to a house in Sunrise East in East Wenatchee to be close to her children and receive extended care. Ann passed away peacefully, with beauty and grace, in her East Wenatchee home surrounded by family. She is now flying with the birds, reuniting with family past and friends, and looking at all the stray cats she saved.
Memorials can be made to the Quincy Reiman-Simmons House or the Quincy Senior Center.
Please leave a memory for the family or sign their online guestbook at www.scharbachs.com.
Scharbach’s Columbia Funeral Chapel, Quincy is assisting the family with arrangements.