Sister Anne (Francis) Wirtz, 88, died on Thursday, September 11, 2008, at St. Agnes Hospital. She resided at St. Agnes Convent in Fond Du Lac, WI. Born in Crown Point, Indiana, on December 14, 1919, Anne was the ninth of twelve children born to John Peter and Ellen (Berg) Wirtz. Following in the footsteps of her two older sisters, Sister Amadea Wirtz, CSA, and Sister Camilla Wirtz, CSA, Anne entered the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes in 1942. She professed her first vows as Sister Francis on August 15, 1945. Sister Anne earned a B.A. in English with minors in social studies and education from the College of St. Francis, Joliet, IL, and an M.A. in English Literature from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. From 1942 to 1985 Sister Anne ministered primarily as a high school English teacher at St. Mary Springs in Fond du Lac and other congregational high schools in Beloit, WI, Altoona, PA, Yonkers, NY, and Elmhurst, IL. Teaching was Sister Anne's gift and her joy. A deep love for journalism, literature, and the written word, combined with a strong desire for students to broaden their knowledge, skills, and world view enriched her classes. When she was no longer able to teach full time, Sister Anne ministered as a tutor in the Milwaukee Achiever Program and in the Learning Resource Center at St. Mary Springs High School. She will be remembered as a gentle woman with quick wit and a keen sense of humor, as a teacher who took personal interest in each of her students, and as a deeply spiritual woman whose love of God and deep appreciation of God's gifts were integral to her life.

Sister Anne is survived by one sister, Therese Smock (William); a sister-in-law, Dorothy Wirtz; many devoted nieces and nephews; other relatives, friends, and the members of the Congregation of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered. Preceding Sister in death are her parents, John and Ellen Wirtz; six brothers, John and Anthony who died in infancy, Clarence, Nicholas, Bernard (Buck) and Leo; four sisters: Regina, Sister Amadea, CSA, Sister Camilla, CSA, and Clara Rettig.