Ann "Annie" Masengarb Rieker, 52, of Lancaster, PA passed away August 26, 2024, surrounded by family and friends after a year-plus long battle with ovarian cancer. Born and raised in Lancaster, Annie was the daughter of Paul "Bill" Masengarb and Linda Donaldson Masengarb. She was married to David "Matt" Rieker for 28 years.

Annie was a 1990 graduate of Manheim Township High School and after one year at The University of Georgia, went on to earn degrees from The University of Maryland, The Pennsylvania State University, and Millersville University. She was a long-time employee of the Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, where she was highly regarded as a deep thinker and thoughtful leader. She had a passion for helping children and always thought of others before herself. She gained her zest for life, persistence, and tenacity from her parents, often quoting Linda's catch phrase: "Make it fit!"

Born March 8, 1972, Annie survived an attempt by her 3-year-old brother Mike to stop her crying by stuffing cotton balls into her mouth! Fortunately, the two of them went on to become not just siblings but great friends, just as their parents predicted they would during many of their childhood fights. Annie's life was a series of fun adventures joined by an always growing group of supporters from high school, college, Detroit, and Lancaster. Her life-long besties, Julie Mundorf Boldizar, Molly Courter Ericson, and Laura Strickler, were with Annie on her last day and all mournfully acknowledged that "There will never be another Annie." Annie cherished the time she was able to gain over the past year catching up with old friends like John and Trina Oynoian, Jim and Jenn Lehman, Matt McClintock, and the many members of their social club, Friends & Travelers. Annie's favorite vacation spots included Holden Beach, NC; Smith Mountain Lake, VA, and "floating" in North East, MD with the Bergers.

Her greatest love of all was her husband Matt and their two children, Emma and Michael, both of whom inherited Annie's love of life and friends. Annie was the ultimate helicopter Mom in the most loving way, wanting nothing but the best for her kids and was so incredibly proud of the young adults they are now and the people they will become. She is also survived by her brother, Michael Masengarb; in-laws, David Rieker and Mary Allison; aunt and uncle, Julie and Tim Jenkins; sisters-in-law, Kristen Masengarb and Jennifer Rieker; and nieces and nephews, Isabelle Masengarb, Madeline Masengarb, Molly Rieker, and Cole Rieker. Husband Matt has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of care and support in recent days from so many friends and loved ones, but he's not surprised because Annie always had a knack for making everyone feel special and equally important to her. She always believed the more the merrier.

After an inauspicious athletic career of her own in softball and field hockey, Annie developed a passion for youth sports through her husband Matt, brother Mike, and father Bill. She was watching the Little League World Series and The Big 10 network in the hospital before her passing. Annie was a cheerleader at Manheim Township and the Class of 1990's Homecoming Queen. Some of Annie's favorite sports memories included a trip to Cooperstown with the Mountville Indians and Hempfield Baseball and Basketball games with her fellow "basketball b*****s", including Kym Calabretta, Amy Hester, and Rhiannon Levan. She also loved her Penn State Nittany Lions, often traveling to home and away football games with her family and making many fond memories in Happy Valley and around the Big Ten.

A special thank you for the professional care and advocacy from the team at the Barshinger Cancer Center and Lancaster General Hospital, especially Dr. Bethany Bustamante for her incredible bedside manner, and Annie's friends Lisa Rodenberger and Reverend Elizabeth Shuba, who added their personal touch to her final days.

There's no replacing someone like Annie but she will be remembered and honored this fall for perhaps the first ever End-of-Life Celebration & Penn State White Out Tailgate Party, at a date and location to be determined by the family. In lieu of flowers, any donations can be made to Pitties.Love.Peace rescue in Elizabethtown.