Ann Feige Schaefer

Ann Feige Schaefer

Feb. 17, 1953 - April 29, 2023

VERONA - Ann Feige Schaefer, age 70 of Verona, WI, passed away on April 29, 2023, peacefully at her home in Verona. She was born February 17, 1953, in Park Ridge, IL, the daughter of Richard Gylden Feige and Jean Trantin Feige. She married Kenneth Schaefer on October 19, 1983, in Chicago, IL.

Ann graduated from West High school in 1971, got her bachelors and masters degree in psychology at University of Wisconsin Madison in 1976. She also took additional classes in creative writing at northwestern and psychology at the University of Illinois-Chicago when she was living in Chicago. Ann worked as a baker at the first Rocky Rococos on Gilman St. where she would meet her future husband Ken, through Kens best friend and former Rocky Rococo owner, Wayne Mosley. Ann would go on to co-own Cosmopolitan Drug Company in River North Chicago, IL, with her husband Ken for 20 years. Later when the family moved to Verona, WI, she worked as a special education assistant for 20 years as well in Verona Schools from elementary to high school (New Century Elementary school, Badger Ridge Middle School and VAHS), while also assistant teaching in math, science and English.

Ann loved doing anything in nature especially gardening and hiking. Devils Lake, Pic Nic Point by UW campus and the Red Rocks in Colorado, were some of her favorite spots. She loved growing Bleeding Hearts, White Geraniums, Ferns, Hosta, as well as fruits and veggies in her back yard and working outside.

She loved traveling and the knowledge gained by experiencing new cultures. Some of her favorite memories were vacations in Peru, after she graduated high school; Australia; the Florida Keys (where she competed and won the Miami Met women's Sail fishing tournament); Canada (Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver); San Francisco; Colorado, especially on the Colorado River; and of course Chicago. Chicago was probably her favorite city she loved the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Museum, the Oak St. beach, and just walking down Michigan Ave., or Lake Shore Drive, and took trips frequently to visit her best friend Jenny Coufal.

Ann was one of the most well read people anyone knew, she was specifically enjoyed topics on modern and historical politics, as well as the psychology of human behavior. One of her favorite authors was Jo Nesbo. She enjoyed creative writing and daily journaling, along with canvas painting//drawing and illustrating comics, and had a particular love for Art - a trait shared by many in the Feige family.

She liked reggae and rock music, some of her favorite artists were: The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones and Erika Badu. She always enjoyed cooking and was renowned for her Banana Bread and Frosted Holiday Sugar Cookies. Ann also frequently played sports outside with her son Tony growing up and enjoyed ice skating as well, as she was a former speed skater growing up. Ann had a strong appreciation for French culture and was a fluent speaker ,which came in handy during her many trips to French Canada. She also spoke Russian fluently.

She was very active political and a strong supporter of the Democratic Party, and pro Environmental Conservationism Part which came from her experience being on the biology research team at West High School, and her participation in the Vietnam war protest. She also canvased with her son Tony during many elections. She always kept up with local and national news, and voiced her opinion on issues that were important to her.

Ann was a lover of animals especially cats, which she shared the company with many throughout her life, but also had many other pets from rabbits to tortoises. She especially loved her cats: Raven, Rook and Mark. She enjoyed The Peanuts, Franchise; movies: Elf, The Blues Brothers, Bullet Train, and anything by Quentin Tarantino. Though she did not watch a lot of television she loved the Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the middle, Survivor, anything with Gordon Ramsey, and Mr.Mayor, as well as Jeopardy. She also had a strong interest in fashion and collected shoes particularly Vans, Converse and Doc. Martens. She was a very altruistic person who would do anything for the ones she loved. She will be remembered for her wildcard sense of humor that would make you laugh and smile, and lifting up others when they were down.

She is survived by Ken Schaefer (husband), Tony Schaefer (son), John Feige (brother), Dave Feige (brother), Joan Maxfield (sister), Richard Maxfield (brother-in-law), Erin Maxfield Clary (niece), Alex Maxfield (nephew), and cats: Raven, Rook and Mark.

Ann was preceded in death by Richard "Gramps" Gylden Feige (father), Jean Trantin Feige (mother), Wayne Mosely (lifetime family friend) and cats: Scarecrow and Fluffy.

She will have a celebration of life held on June 10, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Rocky Rococo's on Tree Lane.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.

Cress Funeral Service

3610 Speedway Rd.

Madison, WI 53705

608-238-3434