Anna S. Cunningham

Ann Cunningham, (87) of Richland Center, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on December 25, 2022 after a brief illness. She was born Anni Schmid in Erding, Germany on November 11, 1935 to her parents Franz Xaver Schmid and Kreszenz (Gruber) Schmid, who owned a small farm and greenhouse. One of nine children, Ann’s siblings included Maria (Becker), Barbara “Betty” (Aulinger), Max Schmid, Erna (Huber), Franz Schmid, Alfred Schmid, Rita (Brandauer), and Josef “Sep” Gruber. In 1953 at the age of 17, Ann immigrated to the United States and settled in Plain, Wisconsin where her uncle Hans Schmid owned a family farm, and where Ann had thirteen cousins to help her acclimate to her new life. Soon after, she found employment as a mother’s helper to the Kramer family, who helped her learn English. In 1956 she married dairy farmer and carpenter John G. Flesch of Soldiers Grove, WI, and had four children. Ann later remarried Robert Cunningham of Cazenovia and the couple moved to Lone Rock before Bob passed away in 2016. Together Ann and Bob enjoyed traveling, selling goods at yard sales, going to farm auctions, having family get-togethers with Bob’s famous barbequed chicken, attending the annual Schmid family reunion, and participating in local parades in their bright sunny-colored 1950 Chevrolet dubbed “Old Yellor.” Ann was a productive member of the local Homemakers Club in Richland Center. She excelled in knitting and crocheting and won several prizes for her work at local county fairs. In a brief auto-biography written for the February 2013 issue of Reminisce magazine, Ann wrote “I thank my lucky stars every day that I’ve been able to spend 60 years in the greatest country in the world.” Ann is survived by her sister Rita Brandauer, her four children and their partners: Peter Flesch (Betsy Morgan), Sandra Cicero (Charles Cicero), William Flesch (Brenda Flesch), and Linda Turner (Tim Turner); and her five grandchildren: Lorelei Turner, Freyja Turner Rammel, Aurora Turner, Rhiannon Turner, and Rauni Turner, and one great grandson, Harlow Rammel. Ann was a wonderful mother who was very happy to have raised her family on a small dairy farm in rural Wisconsin: she could think of no better place for children to grow up in. Ann also had many friends and was a well-loved member of the community. She will be greatly missed. The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date. The family suggest that memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice. The Clary Memorial Funeral Home in Richland Center assisted the family with arrangements. www.clarymemorialfuneralhome.com .

Anna S. Cunningham

November 11, 1935 - December 25, 2022