Ann Brothen (nee Maurer), 68, was taken away from us too soon following a hit and run while walking her beloved dog, Hank. If you’re reading this and you didn’t know and love Ann, you may think, “68? She was old,” but that means you never got to see the youthful and vibrant soul that she was. She was 68 going on 28 with the most beautiful blue eyes you’ve ever seen.
Ann never stopped moving and was an avid runner, competing in hundreds of races over the years with her dad, her twin sister Amy, her daughter Liz, and members of the Kenosha Running Club. She loved spending mornings running along the lakefront, through Petrifying Springs, the Kenosha bike trail, or on the Des Plaines river trail. She was a quiet competitor and was proud of every time she finished in the top three of her age group at a race (and it was almost every time). After her retirement from the Kenosha Unified School District, Ann volunteered her time as a coach for Girls on the Run at Roosevelt Elementary School. She drew great pride from mentoring and coaching these young girls and cheering them on at every celebratory 5k race.
She loved her family and loved to take care of people. Few things brought her more joy than hosting dinners for her husband, three children, two grandchildren, and son and daughters-in-law. Ann showed up for her family, attending her eldest son Greg’s softball games every week with her husband Bob. She took every chance possible to see her grandchildren, Liam and Natalie, alongside her son Matt and daughter-in-law Amy, taking them for bike rides, carving pumpkins, and playing in the snow. She loved running with her daughter, Liz, and son-in-law Joe, traveling for races around the country or simply hanging out talking about their shared love of books, gardening, baking, and sewing.
Ann was a lover of many things, including her Book Buddies group, playing pickleball with friends, baking, crafting, painting rocks for Kenosha Rocks, and attending weekly concerts on the lakefront with her Dad. Ann loved spreading beauty and joy, leaving rocks she painted everywhere she visited and sharing cuttings from her beautiful garden. She always wanted to leave a little something behind that would make a person’s day better and make them smile. She loved all of her dogs over the years, especially Hank, who she freely admitted was her favorite child. Most of all, she loved spending her days with her husband and love of her life, Bob, going on roadtrips, enjoying nature, and listening to music together during their 46 years of marriage.
With all the things that she loved, she loved her people. Her family and friends can attest that there was nothing better in the world than being loved by Ann because she loved unconditionally. She died surrounded by her family because there’s not a room in the world big enough that would fit all the people that loved her. As a final act of selflessness, Ann liver was able to find a perfect match, and she will save another person’s life.
Ann is preceded in death by her mother Rhea, father Ed, brother Jim, and sister Sue. She is survived by her husband, Bob, three children, Greg (Ashleigh), Matt (Amy), and Liz (Joe), siblings Amy (Doug) Greiner, Chris (Pam) Maurer, Carol (Gene) Iaquinta, and Steve Maurer.
The family would like to thank the first responders and the care team at Froedtert’s SICU for doing everything they could to make Ann as comfortable as possible in her final days, especially her nurses, Julie and Monique, and her doctors, Dr. Jang and Dr. Peschman. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Girls on the Run Southeastern Wisconsin.
Please join us for a celebration of Ann’s life on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. at Proko Funeral Home. We ask that you wear your favorite outfit, something colorful, or something that would make others smile in the way Ann would always strive to do.