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After losing her mother to dementia, Annemarie Deutschmann found healing, hope and a new sense of purpose.
Inspired by a series of touching experiences with butterflies, she wrote her first book, “Rosie Remembers.” It is a beautifully-illustrated story designed to help families navigate the emotional challenges of memory loss.
In addition to her work as an author, Annemarie has developed a strong passion for aquaponics. It is a sustainable method of growing food that combines fish and plants in a symbiotic relationship.
Today, she is teaching students and seasoned citizens alike about the life lessons found in nature and the importance of continual growth at every stage of life.
Annemarie’s life after 50 is a beautiful testament to how love, loss and faith can come together to create a deeper sense of purpose.
Her book, “Rosie Remembers,” was born from the profound journey she shared with her mother through various stages of dementia.
Recognizing that facts and figures often fail to comfort grieving families, Annemarie wanted to offer something different — a gentle, hope-filled reminder that even as memories fade, love and presence endure.
“Rosie Remembers” not only tells the story of a little rosebud facing memory loss but also provides practical tips and heartfelt encouragement for families walking a similar path.
Writing the book was just one step on Annemarie’s evolving journey. She also discovered a passion for aquaponics — the science of growing plants and fish together in a way that nurtures both lifeforms.
Today, she operates an aquaponics system that produces dozens of heads of lettuce every month, while also providing education for alternative high school students in her community. Her goal is to bridge generations, connecting seasoned citizens, who possess a wealth of agricultural knowledge, with young people eager to learn about sustainable living.
Through aquaponics, Annemarie teaches more than just science. She conveys important lessons about patience, balance and growth. Her next children’s book, “Letty Grow,” will introduce young readers to these concepts in a fun and engaging way. She will use a little seed character to show how teamwork and nurturing relationships can help everyone thrive.
Today, at 51, Annemarie embraces the calling she never expected: to inspire others by sharing stories of faith, resilience and renewal. Whether through the pages of her books or the hands-on experience of aquaponics, she is committed to making a difference, one heart — and one harvest — at a time.
If you’d like to connect with Annemarie to learn more about her work with dementia families or sustainable agriculture, you can reach her by email at annimd@gmail.com, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com. I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
If you order Annemarie’s book from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.