Ann was born in Seneca, Kansas to William (Bill) and Lela Gudenkauf on July 24, 1950.  The family moved to Springfield, MO, and Ann made it her lifelong home.  On her birthday in 1971, Ann married John Meese of Herculaneum, MO, and together they raised four children.

A graduate of Southwest Missouri State University, Ann began her career as an Art and English teacher in Billings, MO.  In 1974, Ann found her home in the Springfield Catholic School System, remaining there through the rest of her career in education.  She taught high school Art and English at Springfield Catholic High School from 1974 to 1981, also serving as Assistant Principal there in 1978.  In 1979, Ann became the Assistant Principal at Immaculate Conception Elementary School, then was Principal at St. Agnes Elementary School from 1983 through 1988.  She returned to Immaculate Conception as the Principal from 1988 to 1999.  In 1999, Ann was named the Director of the Springfield Catholic School System, serving in that role until her retirement from the Catholic Schools in 2007.

After thirty-three years of service in Catholic education, Ann sought to continue sharing her love of painting, education, and community.  Knowing that many rural school districts lacked funding for formal art programs, Ann wrote and was awarded a grant to develop the "Southwest Missouri Educational Artist in Residence" program.  She spent four years traveling to over 100 rural schools throughout the region introducing school children to art.

Inspired by the loss of her sister-in-law, Susan Picarella, to breast cancer, Ann continued to serve the Springfield community, working at the Mercy Breast Center and in Mercy's Mission Services.

Ann volunteered her time in service to several organizations and had many accolades, including:

• 2006 Springfield Business Journal 20 Most Influential Women
• Speaker at the National Conference of National Catholic Education Association
• Founding Member and Artist at the Fresh Art Gallery
• Volunteer with the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA), helping victims of national disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin Tornado

Ann was proceeded in death by her parents, Bill and Lela Gudenkauf; her mother and father-in-law, Albert and Dorothy Meese; her sister-in-law, Susan Picarella; and her nephew, Randy Baker.  She is survived by husband John, and children Johnny Meese (Darci), Stacie Owens (Ken), Jenny Johnson (Jeff), and Jake Meese (Sarah).  She loved her ten grandchildren: Kayte, Brooklyn, and Morgan Meese; Maggie and Sam Owens; Elliot and Gage Johnson; and Parker, Hudson, and Nora Meese.  She will be missed by her three sisters and extended family:  Karen and Willie Wade, Lynne and Vernon Baker, Kathleen and Jim Bauer, Al and Sharon Meese, John Picarella, many nieces and nephews and life-long friends.

Both Visitation and Funeral will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, located at 3555 South Fremont Ave, Springfield, MO.  Visitation will be Friday, July 24, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  A Rosary will be said at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 25, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Masks are required in the church and social distancing will be practiced.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Shepherds Fund, an endowment established for Springfield Catholic Schools teachers at theshepherdsfund.com.