Joel Karnick
Annabelle (Annie) Vuchetich Weishan passed away July 6, 2024, after a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Annie was born in Highbridge, Wisconsin to Hugh and Agnes Kerr on October 19, 1931. She was the 3rd oldest of six children in her biological family. Later she was adopted, due to her mother’s untimely death, by her uncle and aunt, George and Isabelle (Kerr) Steinmetz who also had a son, William.
While living with the Steinmetz family, she fondly remembered her time spent working on the farm, helping with the livestock and out in the fields/gardens. During her high school years, she enjoyed playing french horn in the band and orchestra. This love of band and orchestra music continued throughout her life. After graduating from Ashland High School, she enrolled in County Normal to obtain her two-year teaching certificate. She began her teaching career at the Washington Elementary School in Park Falls where she taught first grade. It was in Park Falls that she met Lawrence Vuchetich who then became her husband. From this marriage four children were born: Barbara Vuchetich (Sioux Falls, SD), Paul (Kim) Vuchetich (Fifield, WI), Daniel Vuchetich (Park Falls, WI), Julie Vuchetich (New Richmond, WI). Tragedy struck Annie’s life when Lawrence suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away. Annie, with the help of her family and friends, raised her four children for three years after Lawrence’s death.
During these years she returned to her teaching career at St. Anthony’s Catholic School teaching first grade. At the end of those three years, she met and married Richard Weishan. During their married years they enjoyed living in Fifield, Park Falls and eventually on Sailor Creek Flowage. During their time “on the Flowage,” after all their children were in college or living their own lives, they both enjoyed fishing, hunting, flower gardening and planting vegetable gardens with the best tomatoes in Price County. Annie spent many hours tending to her house plants and vegetable gardens. On long winter nights, she kept busy with knitting, crocheting, and reading great books. While not quite ready to retire, Annie worked at several part-time jobs such as waitressing at Hicks Landing and Kountry Kafe. She also enjoyed working at the Park Falls Library which was her favorite job. She and Richard enjoyed participating in fishing trips, and sing-a-longs with the Hicks Landing Gang. In later years, they moved back to Park Falls so they wouldn’t have to fight the winter roads but missed the Flowage lifestyle.
Shortly after moving to Park Falls, Richard was placed in Park Manor. Richard and Annie were married until 2013 when Richard passed away from Dementia. Annie then moved to Flambeau Heights apartment complex and truly enjoyed her time sitting outside at night chatting about the day with her friends. She also enjoyed playing bingo and watching the Brewers and the Packers on the big screen TV. In 2018 she moved to New Richmond with Julie. When living in New Richmond, she enjoyed reading with early elementary school students a few days a week. Eventually Annie had to be admitted to the Orchard View Terrace which was a memory care assisted living facility. Annie’s caregivers described her as “a feisty little lady” who loved drinking several cups of strong black coffee every day.
Throughout all the years Annie enjoyed following the lives of her six grandchildren, Joshua Vuchetich (Wakefield, MI), Chase (Kendall) Vuchetich (Roanoke, VA), Vincent Vuchetich (Park Falls, WI), Victor (Katie) Vuchetich (Eau Claire,Wi.), Emily (Izaak) Vuchetich (Colorado Springs, CO), Nathan (Kara) Piotrowski (Milwaukee,Wi) . Annie also had three great grandchildren, Conner Bucheger (Butternut, WI) and Gideon and Micah Vuchetich (Roanoke, VA).
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Lawrence Vuchetich; second husband, Richard Weishan; her biological parents, Hugh and Agnes Kerr; her adopted parents, George and Isabelle Steinmetz; her sister Arlene Pellet and stepdaughter Laurie Weishan.
She is survived by her children, Barbara Vuchetich, Paul Vuchetich, Daniel Vuchetich, and Julie Vuchetich; step-children, Cynthia Piotrowsk, and Michael Weishan; 6 grandchildren; brothers, George Kerr, David Kerr; sister, Donajene Copperud.
Family members wish to thank the caring staff at Orchard View Terrace who truly understood Annie’s needs as a person and how to deal with her feisty personality in her last three years of life. A word of thanks is also extended to the Lakeview Hospice care team who lovingly provided care for Annie and her family during the last four months of her life.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 276 S. 5th Ave, Park Falls, WI 54552, on July 16, 2024, at 11 a.m. There will not be visitation before the service. Interment will follow the service at Nola Cemetery. Heindl-Nimsgern Funeral Home is assisting the family.
