When Harold and Helen Rutledge welcomed their first-born daughter into the world on February 12, 1940 -- the birthday of Abraham Lincoln -- it seemed only natural that they should name her Ann after the president’s sweetheart. Their decision to grace their daughter with this historic name caught the attention of the Milwaukee Journal, and a photograph of Ann Rutledge appeared in the newspaper shortly after her birth and on her birthday some twelve years later!
Ann was raised in Wauwatosa with her two younger sisters Jane and Heather, and she attended Wilson School, Hawthorne Junior High, and Wauwatosa High School. She was active in a variety of school activities, including band, chorus, and the yearbook. The Rutledges were also active members of the Wauwatosa United Methodist Church.
Following her graduation from high school, Ann enrolled at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee where she began her studies in the field of Special Education. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Ann taught for several years in the Milwaukee Public Schools and in the public schools in Oakland, California. She then decided to pursue her education further, enrolling at Northwestern University where she earned a Masters Degree. Ann subsequently earned another M.A. at the University of Michigan and a Doctorate of Education at the University of Arizona.
In 1971, Ann married Louis Powers whom she had met while studying in Michigan. The couple moved to Portales, New Mexico, where Lou had been raised, and Ann became stepmother to Tanya, Shawna, Randy, and Marka, Lou’s children by a previous marriage. While living in Portales, Ann taught at Eastern New Mexico University and completed her doctorate at Arizona. Several years later, the couple moved to Dallas, Texas, where Ann took a faculty position at Southern Methodist University and Lou served as principal at Highland Park High School. In 1980, the couple separated and eventually divorced, and Ann took a new position in the Special Education Department at the University of Alabama. After serving for a number of years in Tuscaloosa, Ann accepted a position at Missouri State University in Springfield where she taught in the Deaf Education Program until her retirement in 2010.
Following her retirement, Ann moved back to the Milwaukee area to reunite with family and friends. In addition to taking part in birthday and holiday celebrations, Ann joined her sister Heather and her husband Bob in visiting their son Chris and his family in New Orleans, and she accompanied a tour group from the Milwaukee County Historical Society on a week-long trip to Ireland.
Long afflicted with multiple sclerosis, Ann finally succumbed to the disease and related conditions on October 2, 2023 after a brief hospitalization. She was lovingly cared for by the staff at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton and at Newcastle Place in Mequon. May she rest in peace!
Visitation on Monday, October 16, 2023 at Newcastle Place Chapel, 12600 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon from 10 AM until the time of Memorial Service at 11 AM. Burial at Wisconsin Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials to HEAR Wisconsin (HTTPS://hearwi.org) or the Alexander Graham Bell Association (www.agbell.org)
