DEFOREST – Ana Yakymiw, age 89, joined Our Heavenly Father on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, surrounded by her loving family.

Ana was born on May 15, 1925, in Shulkanivka, Ukraine, to Mercurio and Julia Derij. She emigrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she married Michael Yakymiw (37 years of marriage), and raised three children, Eugene, Natalie, and Julia. The family moved to the United States (Newark, N.J.) in 1965, and after working for nearly 15 years at Okner (eyeglass factory in New Jersey), Ana retired to Palmyra, Wis.

Ana spent much of her time crafting items (quilts, pillow cases, dresses, etc.) that she later donated to organizations including Walter Reed Medical Center, the American Hero Quilt organization, Carbone Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital, and Little Dresses for Africa, Ride for the Cure, and many others. Ana also loved to cook and bake, travel, gardening, crafting and quilting, puzzles with her friends at Parkside Village, and watching the Green Bay Packers. Ana was very proud of her American citizenship, and would frequently say “God Bless America.”

Family and friends were Ana’s passion and joy. She leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her three children, Eugene (Sheila) Yakymiw of Hollywood, Fla., Natalie Limpel of Sun Prairie, and Julia (Neal) Kasper of Nekoosa; six grandchildren, Nick Limpel of Lodi, Elizabeth Limpel of Seattle, Wash., Jeffrey Kasper of Nekoosa, Kelley, Joey and Matthew Yakymiw of Hollywood, Fla.; nephews, Carlos (Lujan) Derij and Hector Derij of Buenos Aires, Argentina; along with numerous loving relatives and friends in the United States, Argentina, and Ukraine.

Ana was preceded in death by parents, Mercurio and Julia; husband, Michael; and brother, Miguel Derij.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 6924 Lake Road, DeForest, with Pastor Kathy Reid officiating. A visitation will be held on Saturday at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.

A special thank you to all the nurses and staff at Agrace HospiceCare and Carbone Cancer Center, especially Dr. Amy Stella, Dr. Karen Huseby-Moore and Dr. Gerald Pankratz. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ana Yakymiw

May 15, 1925 - February 26, 2015

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