Ann Marie Hildebrand Steinkraus died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at the Hospice Alliance residence in Kenosha after a 16-month struggle with lung cancer. She was 54.
She was born June 19, 1952, in Oshkosh, Wis., to William and Helen (Morrissey) Hildebrand, and grew up on her father's dairy farm south of Omro, Wis. She graduated with honors from the Omro public schools and went on to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where she earned a degree in English and then to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned a master's degree in library science.
For 15 years, starting in 1975, she was director of the Adams County Library in Adams, Wis. On Nov. 15, 1986, she married David Steinkraus, from East Detroit, Mich., a reporter at the local newspaper.
In 1990 David's work brought him to Racine, and Ann left her treasured library for a new city and new opportunities to make herself useful. She became involved particularly with the American Association of University Women and St. Edward's Catholic Church, leading book clubs for both, a Bible study for the church, and the Great Decisions foreign affairs discussion group for AAUW. She also served on the advisory committee for the Racine Reads community reading project.
For a decade Ann worked as a shift leader in the homeless shelter program during the time that it rotated among area churches, including her own. For several years she cared for the health and financial affairs of her mother, who died in 2005, and found relaxation by digging in her beloved garden, watching birds along the Lake Michigan shore, and tracing the genealogy of her family, especially her Irish ancestors. She also found time to return to library work as a part-time reference librarian at the Racine Public Library.
She is survived by: her husband, David, of Racine; her brother, Gerard, his wife, Lesley, and their daughter, Emily, of Bethesda, Md.; and numerous cousins and friends. They will miss her practicality, her warmth, and the courage with which she faced her illness.
In lieu of sending flowers, please consider memorial contributions to two of Ann's favorite organizations: The Nature Conservancy or Habitat for Humanity.
According to Ann's wish, there will be two funeral services, one for her friends in the Racine area and the other at her home parish, followed by burial, in Omro.
The Racine service will be held at St. Edward's Catholic Church, 1425 Grove Ave., on Thursday, June 21, 2007, with the Rev. Allen Bratkowski officiating. Visitation will start at 3:30 p.m., and a mass will follow at 6 p.m.
The Omro service will be on Saturday, June 30, at St. Mary's Catholic Church 233 E. Scott St., with the Rev. Joseph Mattern officiating. Visitation will start at 9 a.m. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., which will be followed by lunch and then burial in the Omro cemetery.