Salinas, CA

Ann Potwin Haberkorn, 91, of Salinas, California, passed away on May 23, 2024, surrounded by her daughters.

Ann had been living at Belmont Village in San Jose in recent years to be close to her daughters and their families.

Born in 1933 in McPherson, Kansas, Ann was the only child of Ross and Bly Potwin. Ross was the superintendent of McPherson schools and Bly was a homemaker.

Ann always talked about the challenges of being the daughter of the school superintendent because she had to be bad enough tohave some friends, but good enough not to get into trouble.

Ann graduated from McPherson High School in 1951, then went on to Kansas State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. She was amember of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and met her eventual husband, Charles Haberkorn while at Kansas State.

Ann married Charles on June 26, 1955 in McPherson, Kansas. They were married until Charles passed away in 2004. Ann worked as a school teacher, primarily teaching home economics classes to junior high school students.

In 1958, Ann and Charlie moved from Kansas to Ohio, but Ann’s allergies didn’t suit Ohio. They decided to look west and drove to California where Charlie was lucky enough to find ajob with the Caterpillar tractor dealer in Salinas, California. There they met their good friends, Harold and Jane Black, who sold them some land in San Benancio Canyon on which they built their dream home in 1961. Ann lived at that house until 2015 and loved the surrounding hills. Ann worked, teaching home economics classes, at El Sausal Junior High in Salinas until the birth of her first child, Susan, in 1968. In 1969, Ann and Charlie welcomed their second daughter, Beth. After the birth of her children, Ann was very involved in the kids’ lives and extracurriculars. She was a sewing leader and served as club community leader for San Benancio 4-H club for many years.

She was also an active member of her PEO chapter in Salinas. PEO is a philanthropic educational organization that promotes educational opportunities for women. Furthering women’s education was always a priority to Ann.

Ann also enjoyed and supported the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She was a life-long charter member and donor. She loved taking her grandchildren to the aquarium and stimulating their interest in the ocean and science.

Ann and Charlie were active members of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Corral de Tierra.

Remaining to cherish Ann’s memory are daughters and spouses, Susan and David Horovitz and Beth and Michael Manning, grandchildren, Sarah Manning, Kieran Manning, Samuel Horovitz, and Eva Horovitz.

Preceding Ann in death is Charles Haberkorn.

A memorial service will be held November 26, 2024 at 1:00pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 301 Corral de Tierra Road, Salinas, CA 93908.

Memorial donations in Ann’s memory may be directed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium or PEO. www.Montereybayaquarium.org or mail to Monterey Bay Aquarium, Attn: Development Office, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 www.peointernational.org or mail to P.E.O. International, 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312-2899.