Anne Marie Rathburn

Anne Marie Rathburn, 82, Oneida, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, June 7, 2012. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 21, 1930, daughter of the late Frank and Gladys (Bepler) Keenan. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Delavan, Wisconsin, and graduated from Delavan High School in 1948 as class valedictorian. Following graduation, Anne Marie was employed at Wisconsin Southern Gas Co. and Lake Lawn Lodge in Delavan. It was at Lake Lawn, while taking dance tickets, that she met Floyd A. Rathburn. They were married on June 13, 1964 and moved to Oneida. Together, they bought Star Electric Service Inc. in Green Bay which the family has owned and operated for 47 years. Floyd preceded her in death on October 18, 1998. Anne Marie had many interests. Growing up on a lake, Anne Marie loved to swim and delighted in teaching others to swim, too. In the winter, she was just as happy for the opportunity to skate on the lake. Her appreciation for the arts began in high school when she played the French horn, and continued throughout her life, from attending local band concerts to Broadway productions. She enjoyed football, too. As much as she loved the Packers, she was always excited to watch her grandsons play. Anne Marie also loved her pets, and identifying the birds she heard calling in her yard and saw at her birdfeeders. She was happy to share her appreciation of flowers and could name any plant by looking at its leaves or blossoms. In addition to her love of daisies, her pride in her Irish heritage put Bells of Ireland at the top of her list, too. Anne Marie had a keen interest in government and politics. As an appointee of the Governor, Anne Marie proudly served for many years as a public member of Wisconsin’s Marriage and Family Therapy Examining Board. Anne Marie was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oneida. She had a strong faith and was a passionate giver of her time and talents at her church and at St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere, where she worked for more than 20 years. Anne Marie’s family was most important to her. She will be greatly missed by Kerry and Karen (Bracker) Rathburn and family, Alexis (Mat) Lehmann, Brock, Andrew, and Ian; Kevin and Beth (Ingold) Rathburn and family, Sam, Jack, and Ben; Kathleen (Steve) Metzler; and Kolleen Rathburn; a brother, Francis (Vera) Keenan; a sister, Gladys Mae Keenan; sister-in-law, Georgia Marie Keenan; brother-in-law, Patrick (Kathy) Rathburn; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Floyd; siblings: Donald (Margaret) Keenan, Rose Mary Keenan, Howard Keenan, and Paul (Sara) Keenan; and sisters-in-law: Gloria (Martin) Hilgenberg and Elaine Ousterhout. Relatives and friends may call at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Ave., De Pere, on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue on Wednesday, June 13th from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 145 Saint Joseph Drive (between County Roads U and J), Oneida. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. James Neilson, O.Praem, officiating. Burial will be in Ft. Howard Memorial Park. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. Anne Marie’s family extends a special thank you to the staff of N.E.W. Curative and Dr. Jeremy Green for their care and compassion of Anne Marie and her family. Their goodness enriched her life.