Ann Tutterrow Siewert

Ann Tutterrow Siewert, 86, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed from this life into the arms of her Savior on April 11, 2026. An always cheerful woman with a kind heart and a giving spirit, Ann never met a stranger and had a remarkable gift for making everyone in her orbit feel special.

She was born February 4, 1940, in unincorporated Roane County, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Earl Tutterrow and Carrie Mae Tutterrow. She loved to tell the story of her being born in the back of the family store due to a severe ice storm.

It was a fitting beginning for a woman whose adaptability would carry her around the world. That girl from Roane County went on to become the valedictorian of Roane County High School and earned a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee, where she majored in Home Economics.

It was at UT that Ann met Stewart “Stu” Siewert, the love of her life. They were married in 1962, and soon after settled in Atlanta, where Ann worked for the USDA. Their sons Jeff and Dean arrived two and then four years later respectively. When Stu’s career called the family to New Jersey, then Tokyo, then Memphis, Singapore, Seoul, Nashville, and Knoxville (and some shorter assignments to Portugal and Russia), Ann met every move with grit, grace and determination, making each place home and readily connecting with community.

In 1971, Ann and Stu moved to Tokyo with two young boys in tow. Japan was not easily navigated in that era, but Ann threw herself into learning its culture, language, and arts — from flower arranging to ceramics, to Japanese cooking. She served as President of the prestigious College Women’s Association of Japan (CWAJ), a charitable organization that raised scholarship funds for Japanese women, and put on a globally acclaimed annual Japanese print exhibition that brought exposure to modern Japanese artists. Her warmth and easygoing nature opened extraordinary doors: at such events she met the Crown Princess and other members of the Imperial Family, mingled with multiple ambassadors and spouses from the U.S. and other nations, had tea at the residences of wives of Japan’s Prime Ministers, and had the honor to escort then Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter.

When the family returned to the United States and Tennessee but this time to a new-to-her Memphis, Ann wasted no time getting past reverse culture shock and finding ways to serve. She became a faithful volunteer with Meals on Wheels — a commitment she would carry into every American city she lived in thereafter. She was an active presence in her Sunday School community and helped raise funds to build her church’s youth center. In all her life’s stages, she consistently answered the call to lead and volunteer, whether as a Cub Scout den mother or visiting with residents in senior care homes. Her years in Singapore and Seoul in the 1980s deepened her love for Asian history, culture, and people, and she became a knowledgeable collector of many styles of art and antiques, learning well the stories behind each piece. She held the family together as they traveled around the world from Kenyan safaris to the Taj Mahal. She also regularly accompanied Stu on his business trips throughout the Asia-Pacific region, as they were a good team together.

Ann and Stu eventually returned to her roots in Knoxville, where she became a devoted member of Cedar Springs Church, actively participating in Sunday School class activities, the broader life of the congregation, and with a special place in her heart for Wears Valley Ranch in Sevierville. She and Stu were faithful fans of University of Tennessee football and rarely missed a home game. They also were regular attendees of Lady Vols basketball, even traveling to Puerto Rico and other places with the team.

From childhood, Ann played the piano, and her baby grand was rarely silent on weekends at home. Whether she wanted to or not, she often accompanied Stu in performing as the entertainment at office Christmas parties in four countries. She enjoyed hiking the grounds of Nashville’s Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and later Farrugut Park. In 2019, Ann moved just north of Atlanta to be near her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren — a chance she cherished. At her Marietta apartment community, she was appointed “ambassador” among her neighbors for her willingness and ability to make all feel welcome. Daily she could be seen walking the halls, asking other residents by name how they were doing.

Ann is survived by her sons Jeff Siewert and his wife Melanie, and Dean Siewert and his wife Martha; her grandchildren Katherine, Jay, and Devin; her brother Jack Tutterrow of Dallas, Texas; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Stewart “Stu” Siewert, who passed in February 2014, and by her parents, Earl and Carrie Mae Tutterrow. Her ashes will be laid to rest beside Stu’s at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Kingston, Tennessee — a cemetery with family roots, featuring many names from her connected family trees.

if you would like to make a donation in Ann’s memory, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association online at alz.org or by mail to 320 Nevada St. Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460.