Anne LaRayne "Annie" Messelt

Anne LaRayne Messelt

(August 10^th, 2006 – Jul 20^th, 2023)

While you were born on Thursday August 10^th, 2006, as Anne LaRayne Messelt, you will always be, to us, our Annie.  And while you may have left us peacefully in your sleep on Thursday July 20^th, 2023, your compassions and passions were hardly peaceful and your love of life and our love for you will never leave.

Your mom, Terri, and your dad, Bruce, could not keep up with your immense bundle of joy and energy, so we enlisted the help of big sisters Katie and Ellie to at least attempt to do so.  For a while, we even brought in “strategic reserves” in big brothers Jack and Nikita to provide a last line of defense. We failed.

Annie, over these oh-so-short seventeen years, slumber parties, makeup sessions, fashion shows, theater productions, orchestra concerts, soccer, and gymnastics gave way to debate and speech tournaments, hiking and camping trips, planning our annual treks to the Boundary Waters and Colorado, visiting your sisters, grandparents and extended family, hanging out with friends, working out at the gym, loving on our furry companions, caring for the children in our faith community and neighborhood, and downhill skiing, which you somehow made into a year-round sport.

You did not let injury, setback, or unfair circumstances deter you; they only made you stronger and more determined.  And while you followed some of your sisters’ and parents’ footsteps in pursuing similar interests and achieving incredible personal, athletic, and academic success, you were already well along your way in forging your own path – one painted in all the colors of the rainbow.

You died while living all five of your passions.  You were caring for God’s natural creation and plotting your next assault on humankind’s environmental pillaging of this earth; you were keeping fit and helping raise money to continue your pursuit of skiing greatness, right in the shadow of the very slopes you loved the most; you were talking your friends’ ears off about anything and everything – practicing your debate, extemporaneous, and impromptu speaking skills “ad nauseum”; you were caring for the physical and emotional health and wellness of those around you – always a friend, listening ear, and sheltering tree to all; and you were not just supporting but living out your mission of uplifting, celebrating, and advancing the true human rights of those who suffer disadvantage or discrimination in our broken world.

Maybe it is this which took you from our loving arms: “You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.” Maybe our fallen world could not contain such illumination of true love? Maybe God needed you to rewrite the stars in heaven?  Maybe . . .

All we know is that our Lord and Savior, your Grandpa Bert and Grandma Kyle, Grandma Mavis, Uncle Jeff, and countless other saints in heaven are there to greet you and celebrate your conquering of this one last Double Black Diamond we call death.  The rest of us will continue to cheer you on from here – your family, your close soulmates, your friends, and your beautifully diverse community of classmates, teammates, children you mentored and cared for, and champions of all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, and identities.

While we dread any thought of losing you, we cannot wait to celebrate you, our Dancing Queen at your “homegoing” and 17^th birthday on Thursday, August 10^th, 2023, at the Afton Alps Highlands Chalet.  We will begin gathering at 9:30am and, together at 11:00am, celebrate as God’s Green Green Grass and Blue Blue Sky welcome you into the kingdom of Heaven.  And, true to who you are – we will feast afterward on vegetarian goodies (Boo - dad may smuggle in some roast beef), great barista coffee, Fire Engine cake, and ice cream almost as sweet as your smile.

Love – your family; Mom, Dad, Katie, Ellie and (always) Annie

“When you stumble, make it part of the Dance.”

“I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”