Anne-Marie Linnea Hellqvist Hummel

On Friday, January 26, 2024, Anne-Marie, who filled her life with love for God, her family and others, returned to her eternal home at the age of 92 surrounded by her six daughters.

Anne-Marie Linnea Hellqvist Hummel was born in Stockholm, Sweden, the only daughter to Mindor Elias Hellqvist and Ester Linnea Blomkvist. Her parents owned a small bakery south of Stockholm. After high school, she went to a business college for one year and learned shorthand and typing. She worked as a secretary in an engineering firm, but she soon realized that a career in the medical field was better suited for her.

While preparing to work in the medical field, one of her girlfriends obtained a nanny position in Boston. She asked Anne-Marie to come with her to the United States for a year and promised that she could find a nanny job for her too. Anne-Marie thought it would be a good opportunity to improve her English language skills, and after all, it was only a one-year commitment. After that one year, Anne-Marie did not have enough money for the return trip to Sweden. She and her friend moved to Washington D.C. where they both worked two jobs to earn money for the boat fare back to Sweden. While living and working in Washington D.C., Anne-Marie met Sharman Hummel at an International Student social event and they were married six months later September 11, 1954, in a Lutheran church in Washington D.C.

During their first few years of marriage, Anne Marie and Sharman moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to San Francisco, California due to Sharman’s employment. During these years, they had three daughters: Marianne, Ingrid, and Anita.

In 1961, Anne-Marie took their three daughters to visit her parents and relatives in Sweden. While she was gone for six weeks, Sharman went to visit his parents in Washington D.C. On his bus ride back to California, he was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Soon thereafter, the family joined the church and several months later, moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. While living in Salt Lake City they had another daughter Sonia.

Anne-Marie began to be interested in family history work after she received her patriarchal blessing from a church leader in Salt Lake City. In her blessing it said that she would be “a Savior upon Mount Zion,” She didn’t know the meaning of this phrase “a Savior upon Mount Zion”. She found out that it means, “doing something for someone who can’t do something for themself” or in other words, “doing the work of salvation for your ancestors”. Anne-Marie didn’t have much time for family history work with four small children. However, she tried to get to the Family History Center in downtown Salt Lake City once or twice a month to begin doing genealogical research to find her Swedish ancestors. It was while researching in the basement of the Family History Center in Salt Lake City that Anne-Marie began her life-long love and spiritual connection to her Swedish ancestors. She often felt guilty as an only child leaving her parents in Sweden; however, she felt there was a divine reason that she needed to live in America. Anne-Marie related later in her life that she finally understood that reason – to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and perform temple work for her and Sharman’s ancestors.

The family remained in Salt Lake City for a little more than two years due to Sharman’s struggle to find steady employment, which resulted in a desire to change careers. The family first moved to San Jose, California for one short year where Anne-Marie worked in an office to help support the family while Sharman prepared for a teaching career. The following year the family moved to Long Beach, California for a one-year teaching appointment where their fifth daughter Caroline was born (1965). The following year, another one-year teaching appointment was offered to Sharman across the country in Michigan. The family packed their belongings in a small U-Haul and Anne-Marie drove one of the cars over 2,250 miles with two children. It was in Michigan where the family lived in a tent in a campground for six weeks until affordable housing could be found. It was also in Michigan that their last daughter Sharlene was born. Just two months after Sharlene’s birth, Anne-Marie and her family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin because Sharman obtained permanent employment. One year later the family finally settled in New Berlin, Wisconsin and lived in the same house for 55 years.

Now settled in Wisconsin, but short of funds due to the twelve-plus moves and six children at home, Anne-Marie began studying for her nursing degree in her early forties at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) – first as a part-time student, and then as a full-time student. She graduated as a Registered Nurse five years later and received her US citizenship. Anne-Marie worked part-time in two long-term health care facilities until she was 70, where she enjoyed the people she worked with, and the residents she served. On her off hours, Anne-Marie would regularly bring her daughters to the Mary Jude’s Care Center where she was employed to play the piano, conduct sing-a-longs and visit with the residents.

Despite her busy work and family schedule, Anne-Marie found time to continue searching for her Swedish ancestors. When Anne-Marie first moved to Milwaukee in 1967, she was disappointed that there was not a genealogical research library near their home.  After a few years, her prayers were answered and a Family History Center was opened at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. Anne-Marie spent many hours at the Family History Center finding thousands of her and Sharman’s ancestors searching first in microfilm, pouring over vital records, and finally using computer programs with digitized records. She also volunteers weekly for many years to help others with their Swedish genealogical research. Many patrons came to the Family History Center to receive Anne-Marie’s help in researching their own Swedish ancestors. Anne-Marie also served weekly with Sharman, for almost 20 years as an ordinance worker in the Chicago Illinois Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Anne-Marie was also dedicated to serving others in their local church congregation. She served the women in the Relief Society organization as a leader, as a teacher and as a pianist.

Anne-Marie was also involved in the Swedish-American Society Organization and the Swedish Historical Society in Milwaukee for many years.  She taught Swedish to the children who were in the Children’s Swedish Club (Skansen Klubben) and helped with many of the Swedish celebrations which included Santa Lucia, Midsummer and the local annual Milwaukee Holiday Folk Fair. Her own children participated and learned Swedish folk dancing and songs in the Children’s Swedish Club. Besides being involved in the local Swedish organization, Anne-Marie also taught and celebrated all the Swedish holidays and traditions in her home. These Swedish traditions have been passed down to their families today, who continue these celebrations with their children.

Some of Anne-Marie’s interests include painting, rosemaling, cooking, clogging and music. She loved to learn new skills through taking community classes and studying on her own.  Her daughters remember their mother playing and singing Broadway Hits, church songs on the piano at nights to relax and with the family on Sunday evenings.  She loved singing with the Swedish, church and community choirs.

Throughout the years, Anne-Marie often visited her children and grandchildren all over the country to share their special life events. Anne-Marie also traveled with several of her daughters to Sweden, introducing them to close Swedish family members and other relatives that she discovered through her family history research. In 2004, Anne-Marie and Sharman took their six daughters to Sweden to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Together they visited the places of Anne-Marie’s childhood in Stockholm and also met with their living relatives in the surrounding towns. Anne-Marie and Sharman also took their daughters to visit the parishes, towns and homes where their ancestors lived. This once in a lifetime trip meant so much to Anne-Marie – that she was able to share her love for family history work and her ancestors with her daughters.

Anne-Marie often expressed her love and thankfulness for her six beautiful daughters, for their kindness and faith; for the joy of being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and for the 69 years she shared with her husband Sharman.

Anne-Marie, Mom, Mormor, Gamle Mormor (Swedish for grandmother and great-grandmother) is survived by six daughters, Marianne (Dennis) Nielson, Ingrid (Bob) McAlister, Anita Hummel, Sonia Hummel, Caroline (Stephen) Collins and Sharlene (Matthew) Atwood. She is survived by her grandchildren, Jeffrey (Jeannette) Ruhl, Monika (David) Wolfson, Linnea (Tim) Rumsey, Erik (Ashley) Ruhl, Lauren Collins, Camden (Leslie) Collins, William Atwood, Emily (Richard) Wilson, Anne-Marie (Jackson) Feldman, Emily Atwood, Hannah Atwood, Grant Collins, Joseph Atwood and (Joshua Stephenson deceased). She is also survived by her five great-grandchildren Adelie Ruhl, Abigail Ruhl, Nathan Boshi, Zoe Boshi and Zachary Boshi. Her husband of 69 years, Sharman B. Hummel preceded her in death on November 22, 2023.

On Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 10:30 AM, a funeral service will be conducted at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9600 West Grange Avenue, Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

Last year as part of Anne Marie’s 92nd Birthday celebration, her six daughters collectively shared with their mother the gifts and memories that she has given them throughout her life.

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