Anne Sterbenz-Duus

Anne (Katherine Sterbenz-Duus) passed on March 2, 2022 following a fierce fight with pancreatic cancer that began in 2018.  All who observed or who were part of that fight openly admired her.  She engaged that fight with quietness and rationality by doing what was in front of her that needed to be done, one thing at a time.  Anne was born and grew up in Larchmont, N. Y., and, inspired by nature, attended Utah State University.  She met her husband of 43 years there marrying on December 31, 1979.  It is difficult to capture the full richness of Anne’s living that ranged from teaching, artist, accounting, conservation and climate change advocate, naturalist, science advocate, architecture, restoration, gardening, and an active outdoors life.  In 1985 when living is Grand Rapids, Anne and her husband rode bicycles around Lake Superior up through Thunder Bay returning by way of the Michigan upper peninsula.  The total trip was 1400 miles by the time she returned to Grand Rapids.  In 1987, Anne moved with her husband to Duluth and initially taught in the early childhood program.  Subsequently she decided to become full time artist and potter, and established Nodding Trillium Pottery company, built a studio, and a wood kiln.  Anne began keeping books for the Duluth Psychological Clinic working part time while working pottery.  She did the accounting of the Clinic for 20 years.  Anne created a distinctive style of slip trailing pottery and established an annual wood kiln firing and pottery show that continued for some 15 years.  Throughout those activities, were many boundary water canoe trips of usually 2 weeks and other bicycle trips.  What is not yet said is that this lady made lifelong friends from childhood with whom she talked regularly.  Anne was an excellent listener, had an infectious laugh, and was non-judgmental so that she received calls frequently from friends, some with weekly regularity.  This is reflected in the depth of her humanity by openness, a capacity for acceptance, and deep understanding.  Anne is 63 years old.

Memorial Service will be 11AM, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, with visitation one hour prior, in the Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd Street, Duluth, MN 55805.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555, please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.