Anna Dodane Thatcher

August 10, 1926 - February 11, 2017

Anna Mae (Dodane) Thatcher, 90, passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Parkview Hospital – Randallia, Fort Wayne. Born in Paulding County, OH in 1926, she was the daughter of the late Leo and Mary (Schaadt) Blanchard. Anna was a member of St. Louis Besancon Catholic Church, New Haven. She was also a past member of the Catholic Ladies of Columbia, The Elks, The Eagles, The Moose Lodge, The Fish and Game Club of Hamilton, IN, and the American Legion Post #202 Ladies Auxiliary, Butler, IN. She was the former owner and operator of Jigg’s & Ann’s Zulu Tavern, and was also the first female bus driver for East Allen County Schools. She is survived by her children, Gary Dodane and Sue (Jim) Klouse both of Fort Wayne, and Tom (Janice) Dodane of New Haven; stepdaughter Linda (Fred) Dorsten of St. Marys, OH; 6 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Lester Thatcher and Gerald “Jiggs” Dodane; brother, Alfred Blanchard; grandson, Jamie Dodane; and great grandson, Alex Dodane. Mass of Christian Burial is 2 p.m. Friday at St. Louis Besancon Catholic Church, 15535 Lincoln Hwy E., New Haven with calling one hour prior to service. Father Ben Muhlenkamp officiating. Calling is also 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at E. Harper & Son Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven, with a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. Burial in St. Louis Catholic Cemetery, New Haven. In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials to the American Heart Association, the Kidney Foundation, The Church Hall Building Fund, and Masses.