Anne Yuska

Anne Hornickel Yuska, 63, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, died from the COVID-19 virus on April 30, 2020 at Bethesda Hospital, Saint Paul. Born on September 8, 1956 in Youngstown, Ohio to John Clark Hornickel (deceased) and Pauline (Lamp) Hornickel. Anne graduated from Hudson (OH) High School, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, a Master of Science degree in Botany from the University of California, Davis, and a Certificate of Advanced Leadership Studies from St. Catherine University.

Anne devoted her entire professional career to science education. She worked as a Senior Exhibit Developer at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, served as Head of Museum Programs at the Science Museum of Minnesota, coordinated student outreach and professional development at the Center of Excellence for Women, Science and Technology at St. Catherine University, and lastly, as the Program Director of the NorthStar STEM Alliance at the University of Minnesota, led a statewide effort to increase the number of students of color earning bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. She furthered her equity work through a Bush Foundation Fellowship and as a board member of SciMathMN. In 2015 Anne was named one of the 100 Inspiring Women in STEM by Insight into Diversity magazine. She retired in 2019.

Anne was passionate about science, nature and protecting our environment. Throughout her life she used her knowledge, resources and tenacity to bring equity, opportunity and comfort into people’s lives. She understood the value of connectedness, continually finding ways to build and strengthen bonds between family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and students.

Anne navigated through life by creating detailed plans, but was also eagerly adventurous. Many creative energies were released through jewelry making, mosaics, flower gardening and writing. She authored a guide to the stained glass windows of the House of Hope Presbyterian Church, and published her aunt’s memoirs of life in China during the 1920s. Anne would fawn over any waggy-tailed dog who approached her, and was becoming increasing enamored with the beauty and complexity of birds. Having already survived breast cancer, she was stricken with ovarian cancer in 2016. Anne endured a recurrence, then rejected passive resignation to an incurable disease by making radical changes to her diet, mindset and activities in order to strengthen her physical and emotional resistance. This proactiveness led to renewed energy, pride from prevailing, and a return to a productive, satisfying life.

Anne is survived by her husband Tom of 30 years, children Paul and Ellen, brother John Hornickel of Medina, Ohio, and mother Polly of Hudson, Ohio.

A private family memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on May 6, 2020 with a livecast available by Bradshaw. Her burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery, Roseville, MN. A celebration of Anne will take place once we can safely gather together.