Obituaries

Anne Marilyn (Bennett) Baer, age 96, peacefully entered into eternal rest on March 31, 2023. She was born on August 1, 1926 in Stockton, California to parents Ivan Evarts and Lois Josephine (Miller) Bennett. She lived in Boise Idaho from age 2- 7 and then moved to the south side of Chicago in 1933. She was the South Shore HS valedictorian graduating a semester early. Before she left for college she was a file clerk at Standard Oil. She attended UW Madison where she graduated with honors majoring in Journalism and a minor in Spanish. She was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, the Republican Party and the Delta Gamma Sorority. Anne was proud mother to surviving children Barbara McGee, Daniel (Linda) Baer, Mary Kay (David) Hall, Molly Hoger, Casey (Meg) Baer, Andrew (Kelly) Baer and Kitty (Rick) Schefelker; grandmother to Megan & Eric, Buddy & Randy, David & Heather Matt, Mark, & Mitch, Charley & Madeline, Olivia & Bennett, Juliette, Georgia, & Cosette; great grandmother to Guinevere, Michael, Norah & Miles, George, and Cardyn; and she is further survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick Baer, her son Ray Baer, and brothers Ivan Jr. and Joe Bennett. Anne loved spending time with her family, reading, sewing, crossword puzzles and all things sports, especially all things Badgers! She and husband, Dick, were charter members of West Side Swim Club and integral to establishing the All City Pool Meet back in 1962. She rarely missed any of her eight children’s swim meets. You could find her with her stopwatch taking splits for most of the team members; after which she would type up the meet results and deliver them to the Wisconsin State Journal before the deadline for the following day’s publication. Mom was a prolific contributor to the WSJ editorial page putting her journalism skills to work. She wrote over 50 letters during her lifetime with many being published. She found her soapbox and made good use of it Anne was daughter to a WWI vet, wife to a WWII vet and highly patriotic. Anne gave of her talents through the organization Sew Much Comfort... creating and providing adaptive clothing for injured veterans, allowing them to wear normal clothing designed specially to enhance their comfort and dignity while recovering from their injuries, free of charge. From 2008 - 2018 Anne adapted 579 pieces of clothing for our veterans. While Sew Much Comfort is no longer active, any donations may be sent to Quilts of Valor, another organization that supports our veterans touched by war.

Mom always said the life of the soul is more important than the life of the body. We will miss you dearly but will feel your loving presence forever.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 26, 2023 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 401 S. Owen Dr., Madison, WI. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services 5701 Odana Road 608-274-1000