KIM WALKER PHOTO

STORIES: Everything in Its Place

Ann Sulser fits easily into the Hermann, Missouri stereotype. Her ancestors are German, she's over 70, she's married and she's spent her whole life here. The way Ann lives this life is what makes her unique. Ann is quietly dedicated to being Hermann's keeper. Nothing makes her happier than helping. 

She walks the town alone as the sun rises, collecting litter and visiting her home-bound friends. She moves worms off the sidewalk, nuzzles dogs and wishes everyone in earshot a good morning. Later she may sew lap quilts for nursing home patients or even set a couple of mole traps to keep Hermann's yards looking neat. Ann serves her town and, as she does, her town serves her. 

  • Ann Sulser, 73, starts out on her walk in the morning blue. Trash bag and taped-up garbage grabber in hand, she is off on her two-hour trip through town to collect trash and the day's news from the friends she encounters along the way.
  • Ann's infectious smile comes easy as she talks with her friend LaVerne Rickher during their daily visit at LaVerne's apartment. Their friendship began with a shared interest in plants and now involves conversations about doctor visits, the weather and always the latest news of the town.
  • Ann heads toward Esther Bierwirth's house through the back alley with a spring in her step. She and Esther, who's 90, once worked together in Hermann's old shoe factory and have been friends for decades.
  • Ann pulls down an outdated yard sale poster on Market Street, Hermann's main drag. A serial yard-saler, Ann knows the confusion old signs cause and does her part to keep things clear.
  • Her old barbecue tongs laid to rest back at home, Ann grabs litter with her new-fangled trash grabber, a gift from a local car dealer. Even though she had to stoop more with the tongs, she was a bit wary of her grabber at first. But after a modification of the trash-bag holder, she learned to love the grabber and swings it with ease as she goes.
  • Instead of squealing and stomping it, Ann opts to move a huge worm off the sidewalk and out of harm's way.
  • Ann's husband, Muriel, opens the fence for the family dog, 10-year-old Barney, in the background as Ann scoops Barney's poop from the back yard. The couple has a system: Muriel marks the piles with orange-tipped rods and Ann scoops behind him after finishing her morning walk.
  • Ann always looks for the kitchen light as she approaches Esther Bierworth's house from the back alley. She knows the burning light means Esther is awake and O.K. Barbara Grosse (right), Esther's neighbor and caregiver, arrives around 7:30 a.m. and Ann usually isn't far behind. The three gravitate to the same formation around Esther's table and share what they know about whom.
  • Local mechanic Neal Scheidegger leans through the shop's door to wish Ann a good morning and give her shoulder an affectionate squeeze.
  • Ann was already down the path leading away from LaVerne's apartment when LaVerne called her back to look at the blossoms on a tree by her patio.
  • Each night before going to bed Ann reads {quote}Daily Guideposts,{quote} a non-denominational inspirational publication, and writes her daily observations in all capital letters. She almost always ends her notes with a thank-you to God.
  • Muriel has diabetes and a limited diet as a result. Ann accommodates his diet when she cooks: seeding raw tomatoes, baking grain bread and using sugar substitute. Their big meal of the day, dinner in this part of the country, comes at noon and is served with water.
  • RECENT WORK
  • I AM ELON
  • MOMENTS
  • PORTRAITURE
  • STORIES
    • Between Field and Family
    • In and Out of the Dark
    • Students Becoming Teachers
    • The Miracle
    • Everything in Its Place
  • WEDDINGS
  • LOOK & LISTEN
  • kim@kimwalkerphoto.com
  • 740-818-6089