Anne F. Liesendahl, age 80, of Waunakee, passed away Feb. 26, 2026 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison. WI.. She was born on March 2, 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia to Robert Liesendahl and Viola Dorner Liesendahl. She graduated from Aquinas Dominican High School in Chicago and from St. Teresa’s College in Winona, Minnesota. She also earned a master’s degree. Anne was employed as a teacher by the Madison Metropolitan School for over 40 years. She taught at Carl Sandburg Elementary and Kennedy Elementary. She ended her teaching career as the Librarian at St. John School in Waunakee.

Anne’s entire professional career was devoted to loving children. Anne was very friendly and outgoing. She would often take her writing projects to the Waunakee McDonald’s where she would write and interact with children. We would always hear about the families with little ones whom she got to know and enjoy.

Anne had many talents. She was a tremendous reader, writer and author. She had written a book about her brother, Robert’s, efforts to collect scrap metal during World War II. Anne and her colleagues from Carl Sandburg School participated in a neighborhood cleanup on the first Earth Day in 1969. She was an artist and took painting classes at the Waunakee Village Center. She played the piano and was very interested in genealogy. Anne traveled during her summer vacations visiting Europe and Canada. Anne was a great storyteller. She loved camping with her trailer and her beloved cats. Anne also enjoyed her “lunch bunch” group and joined them as often as she could. She was a very religious and prayerful person.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Viola Dorner Liesendahl and her brother Robert T. Liesendahl. She is survived by nieces and friends. Memorials can be made to St. John School Endowment Fund.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church 209 South St. Waunakee. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Winn-Cress Funeral Service

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI