Ann Rose Sauer Age 97, of Birchwood, WI, passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 under hospice care at Our House in Rice Lake, WI.

She was born on April 30, 1926 on the family farm to the late John and Anna (Fuka) Jilek.

Anna was raised in the Birchwood area and married Robert Sauer and later divorced. They had seven children but Birchwood became Ann’s home, Ann stayed in Birchwood and raised her children often working numerous jobs. Ann’s greatest enjoyment in life was her family, especially her seven children. She was always busy cooking, gardening, canning, fishing, playing cards and concerning herself with the welfare of her seven children. Ann had a special gift to bake and cook for all occasions and she enjoyed getting together with her family and friends. Ann was also a 4-H leader for many years in the Birchwood area. Ann was a woman of strong faith and was a long time member of St. John’s church in Birchwood and after moving to Rice Lake, Ann was a member of St. Joseph’s in Rice Lake. Ann took great pride in teaching catechism for many years at St. John’s in Birchwood. Ann loved traveling on bus trips and in her later years she even ventured on a trip to Alaska. Not everyone could consider themselves a card shark but Ann could. She played cards and taught her children and grandchildren how to play five hundred. She even played cards up until the last month of her death.

She is survived by seven children, Patricia (John) Trussoni of West Salem, WI, Robert (Janice) Sauer of Mendenall, MS, Kathleen (Al) Dueholm of Cameron, WI, Douglas (Debra) Sauer of Tucson, AZ, Deborah (Bill) Bowe of Eau Claire, WI, Rosemary (Ray) VanAcker of Birchwood, WI and Lydia (Chuck) Flack of Madison, WI; 13 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; a sister, Helen Socha of New Mexico; many nieces and nephews; and the many longtime friends who were so kind and good to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Anna Jilek; a grandson, Charlie Sauer; brothers, Eddie, John and Charlie Jilek; and a sister, Francis Hansen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM Monday, September 18, 2023 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Birchwood, Father Adam Laski officiating, with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery in Birchwood. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the Funeral Service at the church on Monday, September 18. Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake is serving the family with the arrangements. The family would like to thank all of the caregivers with hospice and all of the caregivers at Our House in Rice Lake.

Last Update: Sep 05, 2023 12:59 pm CDT