Annamae Lois Zschau Obituary (1925 - 2019)

Annamae Lois Kanke Zschau, 94 of Bloomington, formerly of Dwight, passed away at Luther Oaks Wednesday, September 25 at 7:07 PM. She had been eager for the day to come when she could be with her Lord. There will be a service this Sunday, September 29 with visitation at 12:30 PM followed by a memorial service at 1:00 PM at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bloomington. Reverend Peter Weeks will officiate. Beck Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family. She was born on May 19, 1925 in Nokomis, IL. Her parents were Otto and Anna (Droste) Kanke. She married Richard William Zschau on March 20, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran church in Springfield, IL. They were happily married for 66 years until Richard passed away in 2016. Annamae's father passed away when she was a child and she started working immediately after graduating from high school to help support herself and her mother who died when she was 23. She was a cost clerk at Alice Chalmers, a florist at Dwight Greenhouses, and finished her working career as an accountant for the industry department at the Dwight Correctional Center. She enjoyed playing tennis and softball in her younger days and could sing like an angel. She was a fierce competitor especially at playing cards. She enjoyed fishing with her husband, family and friends, yearly vacations in Wisconsin, many times spending the entire summer. She loved traveling the United States exclaiming how it was all so different around each bend. In her seventies, she fearlessly began using a computer. She bravely dealt with losing her leg to cancer in 1987 and never complained. She was a kind, loving, caring person and will be sorely missed by family and friends. Preceding her in death were her husband Richard, her parents, her sisters Ruth Neitzel and Ellen Koehler. She is survived by her 97 year old sister Marion Brockschmidt of Springfield, her children David (Dava) Zschau and John (Nayda) Zschau of Bloomington: Ruth Zschau of Custer Park: James (Ginny) Zschau of St. Louis; her grandchildren Carol (Bill) Zacharias of Custer Park; Adam Zschau, Summer (David) Starr and Jeremy Zschau of Normal; Zachary (Jenna) Gabriel and Courtney (Kurt) Gabriel of Charlotte, NC; her great-grandchildren Autumn, Erik and Alek Starr, Morgan, Logan, Thorston and Hagen Zacharias, and Elijah and Ozwell Kennell. Memorial contributions in her name can be made to the Limbs for Life Foundation 9604 N. May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73120 or any other organization that touches your heart.