Ann Mary Buck

On Sunday, December 3, Ann Buck (nee Ratajczyk), loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away in Denver, CO, at the age of 86.

Ann was born in Milwaukee, WI, to Paul and Marie Ratajczyk.  She graduated from Mercy High School and earned her college degree from Marquette University. 

After teaching grade school for several years in Milwaukee, Ann married her husband, Mel, and took time off to raise their children.  Summers were spent traveling all over the US with her family, bringing history to life and visiting every possible roadside historic marker, often amid the protests of her family.  When it was time to return to work, Ann began working as a bookkeeper for Steren Management, a franchisee of McDonalds Restaurants.  She always loved numbers and worked there until her retirement.

In retirement, she was able to feed her love of history and genealogy by volunteering with Ten Chimneys, the summer home of Broadway actors Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt, in Genesee, WI.  She volunteered there more than 10 years, working as a docent and helping with research.  In addition, Ann and Mel spent much of their time traveling around the US, England and New Zealand visiting their children and grandchildren. 

Although she spent most of her life in Wisconsin, Colorado had a special place in her heart.  She took several trips as a child to Colorado Springs where her dad, a square dance caller, took classes with the premier caller of the day, Pappy Shaw.  As a young adult, Ann met her future husband on a train trip to Colorado with the Vagabond Ski Club.  Most recently, it was where her daughter’s family called home and she and Mel moved there to be closer to them.

Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Mel; her parents; and her sister, Mary.  She is survived by her son, Matt (Lauren) of Austin, TX; daughter, Jeanne (Ken) of Denver, CO; three beloved grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends that she loved dearly.

A funeral will be held at St. Veronica’s Parish in Milwaukee, WI, on December 29 at 11am.  Visitation will precede the funeral at 10am.

In celebration of Ann’s life, the family asks that donations be made to the Ten Chimney’s Foundation.  http://www.tenchimneys.org/donate