
Minnesota Mom Dies Skydiving; GoFundMe Launched to Help Her Kids
A tragic skydiving accident in Eloy, Arizona, claimed the life of Ann Marie Wick (Wallis), a 55-year-old woman from Stillwater, Minnesota, on Friday, January 24th.
Ann was participating in a group descent when the incident occurred. Witnesses say they saw Ann's parachute open but it got tangled and began turning. Authorities are still investigating.
Ann is survived by her two children, Rosalie, 22, and Charlie, 23, who currently serves in the United States Air Force. Her brother, Jeff Wallis, has since set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and support her children during this difficult time.
Jeff told Kare 11 that Ann liked hiking and outdoor activities and skydiving fell right in line with that. According to reports, Skydive Arizona said Ann had completed 287 jumps.
Ann, who grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota, with her parents and three brothers, spent her life defying the odds. Jeff described her as a resilient and determined woman who overcame countless challenges. At 20 years old, Ann survived a severe car crash that doctors said would leave her infertile. Despite the prognosis, she went on to have two children.
In 2010, Ann faced another life-altering challenge when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, ultimately beating the disease, Jeff said. Years later, when her children were teenagers, Ann decided to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She graduated as a registered nurse shortly before her passing.
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“She felt it was her calling to help others,” her family shared in a statement to KSTP. “She also began skydiving around the same time, embracing life with courage and passion.”
As of January 29, the GoFundMe page has raised nearly $5,000 from 58 donations from friends, family, and compassionate strangers.
For those wishing to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign, you can do so here.
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Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now