Ann Jaussi

Ann Jaussi of Sandy, Utah, died Monday, January 19, 2026. Born October 8, 1946, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Walter and Beth Armstrong Jaussi, she lived a life of adventure and leaves a legacy of love and service.

From her school days in Idaho Falls, Ann was involved in diverse activities, cultivating lifelong friendships in all she did. Her service as the IF High School Tigers mascot began a career of coaching drill teams that resulted in establishing the nationally recognized American Fork Band’s flag and rifle corps, which she coached for many years. Her love of sports began early with playing baseball and developed over the years. She was a sprinter on the BYU track team, which led to a lifetime devotion to Cougar athletics, including season tickets for football and basketball. With degrees from Ricks College and BYU, Ann taught PE, sociology, and history, first in Blanding, Utah, and then at American Fork High School, where she ended her 30-year career in 2007. Beloved by her students, she was known for innovative teaching. Learning about ancient Greece, the students competed in Olympic Games with straws as javelins and paper plates as a discus. Her fascination with ancient and modern world history cultivated a love of history in her students, many of whom became history teachers themselves as a result of her influence. Her efforts were recognized multiple times with awards for excellence in teaching from her school and district, and even by KSL’s Teacher Feature. But a greater testament to her influence is the dozens of students who have maintained contact with her over the years.

Ann’s fascination with history, culture, and art, and her perennial curiosity and thirst for knowledge, led her to travel the world. She sought opportunities to expand her knowledge and understanding of all things, taking an eight-year leave from teaching in 1982 to work in Washington, D.C., for the pollster and strategist for President Ronald Reagan, where she wrote weekly memos to First Lady Nancy Reagan reporting public opinion on her activities and initiatives. Upon her retirement, she began researching her ancestors, not just doing genealogy but discovering and documenting the stories of their lives and finding and honoring their graves. Her quest for knowledge enriched her church service as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for which she served a two-year mission at the Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City. Even struggling with chronic illness, she relished opportunities to perform ordinance work in the temple.

Ann is survived by her siblings, Richard (Sandi) Jaussi, Jean Jaussi, Jane Jaussi, Reed (Linda) Jaussi, Mark (Lorie) Jaussi, and by numerous nieces and nephews and their children. She leaves behind a dear friend and companion, Laurie Wilson, with whom she shared adventures for 45 years. She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved dogs Chetty, Jordy, and Maddy.

At her request, graveside services will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls on Monday, January 26, at 1:00 pm. We also invite all to join in a Celebration of Life the preceding Saturday, January 24, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the LDS Church at 1020 East Sunburn Lane in Sandy, Utah, where we will feast on the foods that Ann loved but hasn’t been able to eat for over two years.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to LDS Humanitarian Services, the Utah Humane Society, or LDS missions.

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