LouAnn Behrend Meier

LouAnn Behrend Meier, a former Park Ridge resident, passed away on August 10, 2019, under the care of Agrace Hospice Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

LouAnn was born September 27, 1935, to Edward Pagel Behrend and Edna Mae (Shersmith) Behrend. She attended school in Summit, and Fort Atkinson, Wis., where she graduated from high school in 1953.

LouAnn married her high school sweetheart, James E. Meier, on December 29, 1956, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jefferson, Wis. After their marriage, Jim and LouAnn moved to Ardmore, OK where Jim was serving in the U.S. Airforce. They returned to Wisconsin in 1958 and lived in Madison, then Milwaukee, San Lorenzo, Cali., and Wheaton, Ill., before settling in Park Ridge in 1970.

After Jim’s retirement from Sentry Insurance, they sold their home in Park Ridge and divided their time between their home on Hagerman Lake in Iron River, Mich. and a winter home in Mimbres, NM.

LouAnn was active in the community, serving in various volunteer roles in Park Ridge, as a Girl Scout leader, as well as with the Meals on Wheels program. She dedicated her life to her family and prided herself on being a homemaker. She taught her girls to sew, knit, cook and entertain. She and Jim were members of the Stevens Point Curling Club and LouAnn served as president of the Women’s League. LouAnn was a natural artist and in retirement enjoyed flower arranging, making silver & turquoise jewelry, stained glass, and stamping/card making. Her beautiful cards, that were sent for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays, will be treasured by many of her friends and family.

Survivors include her daughters, Kathleen A. Meier of Dallas, TX; Marla J. (Jeff) Fischer of Fond du Lac, WI; Susan R. (John) O’Loughlin of Madison, WI; Christine M. (Jay) Wojcik of Schofield; grandchildren Ashley (Rick) Kreiter, Lindsay (Nick) Sales, Bradley O’Loughlin, Jacob O’Loughlin, Ava Wojcik, and Elizabeth Meier; great-grandchildren Rowan, Griffin, and Myles Kreiter and Sophie Sales; sister-in-law Carol Ann Angeli, brother-in-law Richard Meier; and eight nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and sister-in-law John and Sue Behrend; sister-in-law Betty Meier; brother-in-law Richard Angeli; and her beloved husband Jim Meier.

There will be a visitation at the Shuda Funeral Home on Friday, Aug. 16 from 4-7 p.m. A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jefferson, Wis. followed by a memorial mass. Interment will be immediately following at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Fort Atkinson. There will be a gathering for family and friends at The RiverStone in Fort Atkinson following internment.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made in LouAnn’s name to the Park Ridge Fire Department c/o Chief Brian Lepper, 24 Crestwood Drive, Stevens Point, Wis. 54481.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.shudadfuneral.com.