Anne Stoll

Madison - Anne Lewis Stoll, age 85, passed away peacefully among family and friends following her long struggle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma on August 3rd, 2011. Anne was born in Marshall, Illinois, on September 14th, 1925. She was the third of four children born to Perry and Esther Lewis. Anne's family moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana when she was very young and she spent the remainder of her childhood there, graduating from Crawfordsville High School in 1943. She then attended Denison University in Ohio and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in the spring of 1947. She went on to the University of Chicago that same year with plans to obtain a Master's Degree in Social Work. Her plans changed somewhat when she met a young World War II veteran named Frank Stoll. They were married the following year on June 22nd, 1949. They remained happily married for 58 years until Frank's death in December of 2007. Following their wedding, the newlyweds returned to Wisconsin and settled in Milwaukee where they were blessed with the birth of two sons, Joseph in 1952 and Karl in 1955. Frank and Anne moved the family to St. Charles, Illinois in 1957 where Frank had accepted a high school teaching position. Anne also began working as a teacher at the elementary level while raising their two young children. In 1960, Frank accepted another teaching position, this time teaching history at Madison West High School in Madison, Wisconsin. Anne and Frank moved the family to Madison where Anne took up part-time work with Madison Public Libraries. In 1969, Anne completed a Master's Degree in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin. Shortly thereafter, she began working as a librarian in the Madison Public Schools. Although she worked in several elementary schools, her most memorable positions were with Marquette (1976-81) and Gompers (1981-87). She especially loved working as a full time librarian at Gompers Elementary where she achieved two of her most meaningful professional accomplishments. In 1984, Anne initiated an international children's art project to promote peace between the United States and the then Soviet Union. Anne and her good friend, Mary Podell, worked hard to facilitate the exchange of children's art to promote peace between the super powers. Based on the success of this project, Anne received the Older Worker of the Year Award for 1987. Anne retired from education that same year and with her husband Frank began many wonderful years of retirement, traveling around the world and attending several Elderhostels. One year after Frank's death, Anne was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma against which she struggled valiantly over the last years of her life. She will be remembered for her kindness, strength, humor, and optimism. Anne is survived by her two sons Karl and Joe and daughter-in-law JoAnna, all of Madison, her brother, Perry Lewis of Frankfort, Indiana, in addition to many sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews from all parts of the United States and beyond. Anne's family knows that she would want to extend her good will, love, and thanks to everyone who supported, loved, and cared for her, especially during these recent difficult times. The family thanks the doctors and caregivers of the Paul Carbone Cancer Center, especially Dr. Julie Chang. The family also thanks Hospice and Bright Star whose unwavering kindness and care made her last months valuable and meaningful. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 10th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI. Visitation with the family will be at 1:00 p.m. before the service. Memorials in Anne's name may be gifted to Wisconsin Public Radio (821 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706) or the Jane Addams Peace Association (777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017).