Ann Rex Schillmoeller

Ann was born on May 25, 1933 during the Great Depression to Jules & Charlotte (Rex) Colas in White Plains, NY. During her toddler years, her family moved to the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago where she lived the remainder of her life.

Ann grew up and spent the majority of her life in Des Plaines, IL where she lived the life of the consummate Northwest Suburban woman. She was a student at Central and Thacker Junior High schools. She then went on to graduate from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge. She was a responsible daughter & good student - excelling in all of her classes. During her childhood years in Des Plaines, she went to dances at Rand Park, movies at the Pickwick Theater, and enjoyed ice cream at The Sugar Bowl. She was always a good swimmer and was a lifeguard at the Rand Park pool. One of her most prominent childhood memories was V-J Day marking the end of WW2. Her Cumberland neighborhood was filled with happiness and joy with children driven atop Des Plaines fire trucks to celebrate the end of a long, sad war.

After high school, she went on to attend Beloit College where she graduated in 1955 with a degree in Political Science. During her years at Beloit she enjoyed her time as a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, attended American University for a semester, and served as a dormitory Junior Counselor. The high point of her college experience was on New Year’s Eve of her junior year when she went on a blind date with her future husband, Edward Schillmoeller. That evening set the path for the rest of her very successful and fulfilled life.

For a short time after college, Ann taught Government to 8th graders at Central School in Mt. Prospect. She spoke very warmly of her brief teaching career. Ann would eventually use her patience and knowledge to teach her own children about almost anything they wanted to know.

Ann & Ed were married in Des Plaines on June 30, 1956 at St. Mary’s Church. Their marriage succeeded for 50 years until Ed’s death in 2006. Ann & Ed purchased Ann’s childhood home in Cumberland (Des Plaines) where they raised their 5 children. Ann was a devoted wife and mother and was fully focused on her home and family life. She sewed many clothes and Halloween costumes; wallpapered every room; baked birthday cakes; hosted afternoon bridge, family celebrations and holidays; led Girl Scout troops; and chaperoned field trips. In addition to her devotion to her children, Ann was a civic-minded contributor to her community and “all things Des Plaines”. She was the manager at Chippewa Pool for a time, lifeguarded at the YMCA, and a member of AAUW. Eventually, Ann was elected to District 62 school board where she served for several terms and eventually became board president. Ann later served her community in various ways by tutoring recent immigrants to the US and as a volunteer with hospice and food pantry. During these years, she returned to college to pursue a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy

At retirement, Ann & Ed moved to their dream home in Spring Green, WI. During these quiet years, Ann continued with her devotion to family by hosting holidays where grandchildren were then part of the mix. The local birds were happy to have her living there as she kept them well-fed with a feeder to suit every palate. She enjoyed attending the opera, beating her family in Words with Friends, and participating in a local book club.

Ann eventually moved back to Des Plaines and later, to Arlington Heights, where she has resided for the past 10 years.

Ann’s life was a full and complete one. Besides her devotion to her family, she was wickedly intelligent with a vast treasure trove of knowledge. And if there was something she didn’t know, she could not resist the urge to look it up. She was one of the first to get an iPhone which provided the answer to any question at her fingertips. Ann had two unfulfilled wishes: appearing on Jeopardy and sitting on a jury. She was a wonderful mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend and neighbor. Her impact carries on with those who survive and loved her. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Ann was predeceased by her husband, Edward Schillmoeller; her parents, Jules and Charlotte (Rex) Colas; and her son-in-law, William Donnan. She is survived by her children, Michael Schillmoeller of Arlington Heights, IL, Jean (Brian) O’Donnell of Des Moines, IA, Susan (Robert Hazard) Schillmoeller of Aurora, IL, Martha Donnan of Wauwatosa, WI, and Laura Schillmoeller of Chesterton, IN. She is also survived by her brother, John Colas, of Long Grove IL, and seven grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, January 15, 2023 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St. Des Plaines, IL 60016, with the memorial service starting at 3:00 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations be made to Maryville Academy: https://maryvilleacademy.org/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.OehlerFuneralHome.com for the Schillmoeller family.