Obituary: Anne M. (Baumgartner) Behrnd

MADISON - Anne M. Behrnd, age 92, passed away at Oakwood Village West on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. Anne was born in Madison on June 18, 1916, to the late Mathew and Anna Maria (Menzi) Baumgartner. She attended Franklin School in south Madison and graduated from Central High School. She later worked at Forest Products Laboratory and Manchester's department store. Above all, Anne was devoted to her large and extended family. She spent many years caring for her elderly parents, a small niece, and, later, for her own family. Anne loved to prepare the delicious Swiss foods that she had learned from her mother. She was known for her wonderful baking, cooking, and cake decorating, especially at holidays and for special occasions, but also as "Mrs. Good Cook," the Mom who always sent cookies to her daughter's grade school. She loved shopping, attending auctions and estate sales, collecting old furniture to be refinished and restored, and searching for a really good bargain. She was proud of her Swiss heritage, spoke the language, and particularly enjoyed trips to Switzerland where she met cousins and other relatives and saw her family's home. She spent many happy hours with her sisters, sewing, drinking coffee, talking, and laughing together. She is survived by her husband, Henry; her daughter, Menzi; and son-in-law, Gerald. Anne also is survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; six sisters, Euphemia Lengacher, Bertha (Betty) Leverentz, Lillian Scheel, Leona Dale, Hildegarde Baumgartner, Gladys Stanley, and Frances (Franz) Bulovsky; and six brothers, John, Walter, Walter Jacob, Mathew, and John Henry. The family is grateful to the nursing staff at Hebron Hall, Oakwood, for their gentle care and many kindnesses. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Oakwood Foundation or to a charity of the donor's choice. A memorial service will be held at a later date.Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 19, 2009