Ann Marie K. Schowalter, of Jackson, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Kathy’s Hospice, West Bend.
She was born on February 3, 1927 to the late David and Ann Marie (Raugust) Rath in Webster, SD. She graduated from West Bend High School in 1945 and Wartburg College in 1949, spending her junior year studying cello at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. On August 27, 1950 she was united in marriage to Quintin Schowalter at Christ Lutheran Church, Jackson. She went on to live in Marion,WI, Compton and St Joseph, IL and Cambridge, WI , communities where Quintin served as a Lutheran minister. They retired to Jackson in 1990.
Ann Marie taught strings and piano privately and in the Marshal public schools. Her last position was at Skaalen Nursing Home in Stoughton where she worked as a music therapist and spent many hours recording family stories of the residents. She spent many hours volunteering her services at church, including playing for services, writing and directing Christmas pageants, participating in ladies circles, bible studies, choirs and playing cello for special services.
Ann Marie had a great love of music which she shared with her husband and extended family throughout her life. She played cello in the Madison Civic Symphony, The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Moraine Symphony. She and Quintin sang together in the Wartburg College Choir and more recently with Choral Tapestry of Wauwatosa, WI. Her personal music journey began with her brother, Walter, when she was 5 and he convinced her to play the harmonica at a church ice cream social, which she did, bringing home first prize.
She enjoyed all of the arts and preferred reading, painting and music over any and all domestic chores. She very much enjoyed travelling, camping, visiting relatives throughout the U.S. and in Germany. Like her mother, she told funny stories and made goofy faces. She made friends easily, made people smile and feel loved. She was an easy going, creative, fun and supportive mother. Her husband, Quintin could not have asked for a better wife and in laws.
Those Ann Marie leaves behind to cherish her memories include her loving husband of 65 years, Quintin: three children, Karlene Schowalter of Oak Park, IL, John ( Vanessa) Schowalter of Champaign, IL and Frieda Schowalter of Madison, WI; five grandchildren, Allana ( Michael) Miller , Carrie Schiff, Rachel Schiff (Ladd Arundel) , Hans and Emily Barkei.
Preceding her in death were her parents; beloved brothers and their wives, all of which were her very best friends, David (and Phyllis) Rath, Walter (and Betty) Rath and cherished Schowalter in-laws.
A memorial service in remembrance of Ann Marie will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church (2881 Division Rd), Jackson, WI.
Ann Marie’s family will greet relatives and friends at the church from 1:00 until the 3:00. The family would be very pleased to have you join them at a luncheon after the service.
A special thank you to Pastor Paul Mittermaier and all the members who visited and brought flowers to Ann Marie. A thank you also to Dr. Gibson, and Dr. Herdrich and all the nurses and caregivers at Kathy’s Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to The Indian Oaks Mission, Operation Bootstraps, The Anne Carlson Center or Kathy’s Hospice would be appreciated by the family.