Anne Elizabeth (Adams) Keller

Anne Elizabeth Keller was born July 16, 1939, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Blanche (Viel) and George Adams, and died on February 12, 2026, at Marshfield Medical Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

She grew up in Sheboygan and graduated from Central High School in 1957. She was a student athlete and an enthusiastic Girl Scout, attending the inaugural national Girl Scout Roundup in 1956. Following high school, Anne earned a bachelor’s degree in English and French from UW-River Falls.

On September 2, 1961, she married Emmett Keller in Sheboygan. They lived in Madison for three years while Emmett attended graduate school and Anne taught French at Madison West Junior High School. In 1964, they moved to Chippewa Falls and quickly became integral members of the community.

Anne first stayed at home to raise her children, Paul and Sarah. She volunteered at the “German Kindergarten,” the first area preschool, which her children attended. She was the secretary at Central Lutheran Church for 15 years and the membership secretary for another 10 years. She enjoyed playing in Central’s Freedom Ringers Bell Choir, which she organized in 2001.

Anne taught French at the Chippewa Falls Middle School for eight years, during which she also led student groups to France. She later taught genealogy for the Chippewa Falls Schools Voyageur Program.

In 1980, Anne co-founded the Chippewa County Genealogical Society, having become an avid genealogist of her own and others’ families. She wore many hats as a founding member, particularly newsletter editor, while actively encouraging others to trace their roots. She participated in the Chippewa Historical Society’s “The Past Passed Here” each year as a French Canadian pioneer. Over the years, she volunteered at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors’ Center and the Heyde Center. Anne valued her membership in the P.E.O. Sisterhood and especially loved the Oktoberfest hair wreath project.

Anne’s most interesting “job” was co-editing three books on Chippewa area history with Donna Bourget and Jim Schuh: Irvine Park – The Bear Facts, Lake Wissota – The Dam Story and Northern Wisconsin State Fair – A Fair to Remember. The sale of these books raised funds for the Chippewa County Historical Society.

She loved to travel, organizing group trips to Europe and various corners of our country. She took several bike trips with her niece, Amy, including a particularly memorable one to Prince Edward Island during the Northeast blackout of 2003. Anne visited her daughter’s family in Switzerland annually for the past 15 years and was always up for a new adventure while there. She loved her “coffee friends” and high school “travelin’ buds.”

Anne always enjoyed being with her daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Frank Hoefflin of Baden, Switzerland and their children, Christoph (Rachel) and Annikka Hoefflin; her brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Diane Adams of Rockton, Illinois and his children Amy and Dan; her sister, Patricia Baas of Chippewa Falls and her daughter Wendy. She also cherished Emmett’s nephews and niece, Steve, Mick, Jim, Tom, John, Dan and Katherine.

In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection, Anne is now reunited in Christ with her parents, her husband, Emmett (2020), and her beloved son, Paul (1984).

Anne was always grateful that she and Emmett chose to make Chippewa Falls their home, as she recognized that it is an inherently special place with a rich history. She felt blessed by having a dear husband, a wonderful family, great neighbors, and many good friends. She should be remembered by her final words: “People are wonderful.”

A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Central Lutheran Church, 28 E. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls, and one hour prior to the service at church. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Central Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls, with Rev. Aaron Sturgis officiating. The interment will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in the Buffalo City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Chippewa County Genealogical Society, the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, P.E.O., the Paul Keller Memorial Scholarship Fund (through CFAUSD), Central Lutheran Church or the Girl Scouts.