Anne Elisabeth Ogren

Ogren—Anne Elisabeth Ogren, 80, on March 12, 2025, with her loving daughters by her side, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Anne was born on February 18, 1945, to Donald and Margaret (Vandenburgh) Ogren in Des Moines, Iowa. She was the middle child of three. Anne was raised in Des Moines Meeting. Her family espoused the values of social justice, embracing others, and community service—values she lived by throughout her life. Her family home was filled with music and singing, and she began playing violin at an early age. After studying at Drake University and Earlham College, she earned a degree in violin performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory, a master’s in music theory from the University of Wisconsin, and a master’s in music education from the University of Michigan.

Anne’s passion for music never diminished. She played violin professionally with orchestras in every place she lived, including the Ann Arbor Symphony for more than 30 years. She was a founding member of Childgrove, an English country dance band with whom she traveled across the United States and to France. She taught countless private violin students at her home, and for 17 years taught orchestra at Abbott Middle School in West Bloomfield Public Schools, inspiring generations of students.

Anne became active in Ann Arbor (Mich.) Meeting in the mid-1990s. She served on eight committees, most notably the Membership and Outreach Committee for 12 years, five of which she was convener or co-convener. She became a member of the meeting in 2004. In the pre-COVID years, Anne was one of the beloved caring grandmothers who looked after the meeting’s youngest children in the nursery.

Anne was an adventurous traveler who embraced cultures from around the world. Her journeys took her to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central America. She was captivated by the music, traditions, and natural beauty of every place she visited. Her five trips to Kenya had a profound impact. She made lasting connections there, supporting the education of young Kenyan scholars as well as teaching violin classes for the Meru Music Program.

Anne inherited a love of birdwatching from her parents and passed this knowledge and passion on to her daughters. She was known for her easygoing disposition, wonderful sense of humor, and full laugh. Anne made indelible friendships throughout her life, and lovingly nurtured these connections.

Friends remember her love of family, her kindness, her healthy cooking (and the ever-ready availability of homemade granola at her house), her deep concern for social justice, and generosity without boundary.

Anne is survived by three children, Heidi Snyder (Steve), Abigail “Abby” Alwin, and Rebecca “Becky” Cox (Rich); three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two brothers, Paul Ogren (Cherie) and Ben Ogren (Joyce).