Ann Marie Kiehl

Ann Marie Kiehl was born June 22, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio to parents Betty and John Carroll. Ann was the oldest of three children and grew up with her sister Jean, brother Mike and their father John. Ann’s mother Betty died when Ann was three and John raised the kids finding work in Cincinnati and New York and help from generous and loving family members. The family moved to Milwaukee in 1955 and John remarried Evelyn Louderback who became mom to his children.

Ann attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee earning a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. During college Ann was involved with her sorority Gamma Phi Beta. Out of college Ann started work as a student teacher and met and fell in love with the love of her life Jim Kiehl. Jim proposed to Ann, and they were married and started a long and loving, blessed life together on December 26th, 1970. 

In October of 1971 Ann and Jim had their first baby Kelly, and Heidi and Kevin to follow in 1975 and 1977. Ann and Jim decided Ann would stay home to raise the kids and in 1982 when Jim took a new job they moved to Madison. They raised their family on the west side of Madison and Ann started teaching again at Our Lady Queen of Peace in 1984. Ann’s family was always the center of her life, but she often referred to her students as one of her kids. She was well-respected and loved teaching 6th grade during her 33-year career at Queen of Peace.

In 1993 Ann was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer. She had emergency surgery, and radiation but the cancer had already metastasized to her lungs. After one round of chemo the cancer was no longer present. Ann was written about in medical journals. The cancer came back to her lungs and Ann battled cancer for years until she was officially and finally declared cancer free. Family and loved ones to Ann knew that she was a miracle. Ann had her share of medical complications through the years, but never looked at them as a burden and they certainly didn’t define her. She took every opportunity to give thanks and reflect on how lucky she was to be alive. Her family and loved ones felt the same way and counted every day as a gift. 

Ann enjoyed over 31 years of life after stage 4 cancer and had the opportunity to not only meet her children’s spouses but watch all of her grandchildren grow up, which is what she always wanted. Kelly married Jeff Bradford in 2002. Kelly and Jeff have three daughters, Sarah 2004, Payton 2006, and Kate 2008. Heidi, married Dr. Pat Elliott in 2005 and have three sons, Owen 2006, Charlie 2009, and Andrew 2010 . Kevin married Lindsay MacDonald in 2004 and have three children, Clara 2008, Christopher 2010 and Jacob 2012. Ann’s family and grandkids will miss her deeply, miss the desserts she made and the lessons she taught lovingly to all of them. Ann considered decorating Christmas cookies with her grandchildren the highlight of the Christmas season. Ann loved cooking, hosting parties, hosting lunches, socializing, attending mass, gardening and taking boat rides with her husband Jim. 

Ann was a doting and loving wife to her husband. She adored him and laughed at all of his jokes which got them through a lot of rough times. She was always grateful for how Jim or “daddy” to her kids, took care of her. She adored her kids and loved to call each of them and Lindsay to chat and catch up. She doted on all of her grandkids and despite an internal debate did not have favorites. 

Ann was brought to eternal peace on July 8th. She didn’t go without a fight and would be proud of the way her family supported one another and, as Ann would always do, left making sure everyone was at peace. Ann will be welcomed in Heaven by her mom and dad, many adoring aunts, uncles, friends and former students. Her soul has been reunited by her maker, and He will be so proud. Her family is grateful for every second they had with Ann. She is loved deeply and will be missed but Ann taught her family that they will be reunited again in Heaven for eternity. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church 401 S. Owen Dr. Madison, WI. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will follow at St John’s Cemetery 209 South St Waunakee. A Reception will follow at Rex’s Innkeeper 301 N. Century Ave. Waunakee at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

The service will be streamed at https://youtube.com/live/DfCpATJA8lI?feature=share

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

 5785 Hwy Q

 Waunakee, WI