Ann B. Tonkinson

Ann B. Tonkinson, 88, passed away August 31st, 2025. She was born June 15, 1937, to Bernie and Esther (Sprain) Hemker in LaCrosse, WI.

Ann’s upbringing in LaCrosse was the epitome of life in small town America. She and her brothers played, walked and biked freely all over LaCrosse on the banks of the Mississippi River and spent many days on their grandparent’s farm in Barre Mills. Ann graduated from LaCrosse Central High School in 1955 where she was a popular, kind, active and top student. She then attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, earning a degree in Mathematics in 1959.

Her teaching career began at Wausau High School in Wausau, Wisconsin, where she taught math for two years. Ann was awarded a fellowship from the National Science Foundation to pursue an advanced degree in Mathematics at a land grant institution so she left teaching to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall of 1961. When asked why she chose Oklahoma State she stated “I’d never been to Oklahoma so I figured I’d give it a try!”

While at OSU, she met Lealon Tonkinson in a graduate level matrix algebra class. They spent many evenings having coffee together in the Student Union until Lealon finally declared he was tired of coffee and they should go out for dinner. They were married on September 1, 1962, in LaCrosse.

Lealon and Ann moved to Indianapolis in 1965 where they raised their children, Sara and John. Ann was a homemaker for several years until she resumed teaching high school math at Heritage Christian School in the early 1970’s. Ann had a positive impact on many hundreds of students while at Heritage until she retired in the early 1990’s. Her dedication to each student’s learning was exemplary and unparalleled. Many times her family found her asleep at the kitchen table after she stayed up all night going through every step on every problem on each student’s test to identify why a mistake had been made so that she could truly teach them and not just give them a grade.

After her retirement, Ann took up quilting. Her sewing room was always full fabric and quilts in various stages of preparation. She proudly shared her knowledge of patterns with others and was always happy to demonstrate how she put quilts together to anyone who asked. There was nothing she liked more than sewing a new pattern together with precision and accuracy.

Ann and Lealon were devout Christians who attended Holy Cross Lutheran Church for more than 25 years. They were founding board members of the Lutheran High School of Indianapolis and one of the founding families of Carmel Lutheran Church.

Ann was a devoted grandmother who patiently and lovingly spent quality time with her grandchildren Matthew, Taylor, Hannah and Jacob. They fondly remember her creativity in coming up with novel games, jury-rigging snow suits out of plastic bags, or staying at “Camp Grandma”. She also instilled in them a love of sugar sandwiches and Mexican Train Dominoes.

Ann is survived by her children Sara (Mike) Bowron and John Tonkinson; her grandchildren Matthew (Lilly Philbrick) Tonkinson, Taylor (Mike Rees) Tonkinson, Hannah Bowron and Jacob Bowron; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Barbara Hemker and Marilyn Hemker.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lealon Tonkinson and brothers Jim and Paul.

Visitation for Ann will be Friday, September 5th, from 6-9pm at Flanner Buchanan Washington Park East. Her funeral service will be Saturday, September 6th, at 10am, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Following, she will be laid to rest at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church.