Ann M. Uicker, age 69, passed away peacefully in her sleep early on Friday, May 9, 2008, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg. She had recently been a resident of All Saints Retirement Community. Ann was born to Raymond and Lauretta (Kirsch) Schumacher on March 12, 1939, at the family farm her great-grandfather established in Sherman Township, MI, in 1881. She graduated from Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic High School in 1956, and went on to attend Marygrove College in Detroit, graduating in 1960 with a major in history. She then taught elementary school for a year in Dearborn before her marriage to John J. Uicker, Jr. on August 12, 1961. They moved to the Evanston, IL area, where Ann taught second grade from 1961-1963, while her husband earned his PhD at Northwestern University. In 1967, the family came to Madison, WI, where Ann raised six children. She taught as a substitute in several Dane County schools from 1984-1988, when she took a full-time position with Madison Newspapers (now Capital Newspapers.) She continued there in various customer service and dispatching roles until her retirement in November, 2006. Ann had a green thumb and successfully grew many flowers and plants in containers or small plots. She enjoyed watching the birds and butterflies who visited her garden each day. Ann’s other long-time hobby was genealogy. She had a talent for detailed research and filled in many gaps in the family history over the years, solving some difficult puzzles. She used the Internet to assist her research, and kept up an avid email correspondence with many friends and family members. When she wasn’t solving genealogical problems, she enjoyed working crosswords, cryptograms, and Sudoku puzzles. Ann was a long-time member of Saint Maria Goretti Church. She is survived by her friend and former spouse, Prof. John J. Uicker, Jr. of Madison, WI; her six children: Theresa (and Chris) Zenchenko of Evansville, WI, John (and Paula) Uicker of Dearborn, MI, Joe (and Alice) Uicker of Madison, WI, Dottie (and Dean) Winger of Madison, WI, Barbara (and Mark) Peterson of Bedford Park, IL, Joan (and Kevin) Horne of Sugar Grove, IL; her brother, Lloyd (and Betty) Schumacher of Sandusky, MI; her sisters, Arlene Martin of Northville, MI, Bessie (and Don) Kirsch of Port Hope, MI, Jane (and Ron) Volmering of Harbor Beach, MI; her sister-in-law Jackie Schumacher of Harbor Beach, MI; six grandchildren: Andrew Uicker, Rose and Joey Winger, Nicoleta and Alina Uicker, and Maddie Peterson; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Ann was welcomed into heaven by her parents, Ray and Laura Schumacher; her brother, Tom Schumacher; and her nephew Terry Kirsch. Funeral services will be officiated by Father Paré at 11:00am on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ruth, MI, followed by interment at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call on Friday, May 16, 2008, from 1:00pm to 9:00pm, with a rosary service at 7:00pm at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home at 2091 E Main St in Ubly, MI. Additional visitation time will be available immediately before the funeral Mass. The family is also planning to receive friends at a memorial service celebrating Ann’s life, tentatively to be held at All Saints Catholic Retirement Center in Madison, WI, on Saturday, May 24, 2008. Ann’s family would like to offer a special thank-you to David Roberts and to the HospiceCare staff, particularly Debbie Deutsch, for their assistance, care, and concern on the last leg of Ann’s journey. For confirmation of dates and times, or to arrange a memorial contribution, Dottie Winger can be reached at 608-833-9037. Online condolences may be left at http://www.aawsvh.org/annuicker.
An Irish blessing in memory of Ann’s heritage:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall softly upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May the Good Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.