Ann Mary (Ernst) Folz was called to her eternal home on Saturday, August 30th, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Ann was born the second of Ignatius and Wilhelmina Ernst's five children on October 6, 1911, in Trübenwasser, North Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. She attended school there and later in Dittersbach bei Liebau, Germany, where her family moved after WWI. In 1923, the Ernst family immigrated to the U.S., where Ann and her brother Joe greeted the Statue of Liberty in awe from the deck of the passenger ship Orca. The Ernst family traveled their new homeland by train to Marshfield, Wisconsin, and joined St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish. In 1927, Ann's parents began their own gardening business, Ignatius J. Ernst Floral, where Ann handled the ordering and bookkeeping. While attending grade school in Marshfield, Ann learned the English language and in turn taught it to her parents and siblings. At Marshfield McKinley High School, Ann was the first female junior class president, the queen of the junior prom, and the anchor of the high school debate team. She graduated as valedictorian in 1931. Later in life, she always remembered her teachers with the highest regard, and she could still recite poems and stories from school, as well as her debate team argument, "big box stores vs. the small, independent business man." After high school, Ann began working as office manager at Weber Brothers Hub City Jobbing Company to help support her parents and siblings. Ten years later she met Clarence Folz, a banker at Citizens National Bank. They were married October 11, 1941. Their union bore them five children, whose births were sandwiched around Clarence's service in WWII. By the grace of God, Ann gave her Gift of Light to her faith, her family, and her community for all of her 102 years, 10 months, and 24 days. She served as a poll worker for the City of Marshfield until she was 85 years old. At St. John's Parish, Ann served as school librarian and was head of the Rosary Altar Society for two decades. She became the first woman lecturer at St. John's Mass and first woman communion minister, continuing that service until she was 98. Ann also volunteered until she was 98 at St. Joseph's Hospital in positions ranging from patient escort to communion minister, a calling that she cherished most dearly. Ann wrote prayers, created books for her children, sewed and mended clothes, gardened vegetables and flowers, and cooked and baked delicious and healthy meals. She played the accordion. She was forever grateful and proud to be an American citizen. And she was the most beautiful mother and grandmother, even to her very last breath. Ann is survived by her five wonderful children, John (Diane) Folz of Marshfield, Jeanne Maly of Pardeeville, Robert (Sheila) Folz of Wauwatosa, Mary Anne Stewart of Baraboo, and Daniel (Kathleen) Folz of Milwaukee; her sister, Sr. Rose Ernst of Greenfield; twelve grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren. Ann was preceded in death by her husband Clarence; her brothers, Joseph and John; her sister, Angela; and her son-in-law, Peter Maly. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 5, at St. John's Catholic Church in Marshfield, with the Rev. Samuel Martin officiating. Cindy Penker along with St. John's Funeral Choir will provide the music. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Marshfield. Visitation will begin Friday 9:00 a.m. at St. John's Church. Memorials may be given in Ann's name to St. John's Catholic Church. Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com