A woman whose life was a story of her own making, passed away on September 12, 2025, at the age of 81. Born on January 7, 1944, in El Dorado, Arkansas, Alice Anne had a way with words that she would use throughout her life to inform, entertain, and inspire. As her memories began to fade in her final years, her family held fast to the beautiful, indelible essence of who she was: a woman of boundless strength, contagious vitality, and endless humor.

Alice Anne’s path was clear from the start. A graduate of Woodland High School, she pursued her passion for writing, earning both a bachelor's and a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern State College in Natchitoches,LA. She began her career writing for newspapers across the country, including the Shreveport Journal, Racine Journal Times, Milwaukee Journal, and Kenosha News. Her curiosity and talent led her to freelance assignments abroad in Poland and Germany, and she wrote for national publications like Reader's Digest. Many readers in Milwaukee will remember her from her popular "The Accent Column," which offered a unique blend of observation and wit.

Alice Anne was a true Renaissance woman. When she wasn't writing, she could often be found on a stage, indulging her love of acting with the Racine Theatre Guild and the 6th Street Players. Her vibrant personality and genuine love for people shone through in everything she did, from her volunteer work at the United Way to her unwavering support for social justice and civil rights.  She was an active member of the Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church and a decades-long member of Alcoholics Anonymous, where she helped countless people along their sobriety journey. 

Above all, Alice Anne’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Matthew) Schmid and Alison Conner (partner Dr. IB Thostrup). She was a cherished stepmother to Renee Whitnall, Sara Katch, Jason Katch, Jessica (Timothy) Smith, and Alyssa (Duane) Nagel. She also leaves behind her former husband, Robert Conner, her siblings, Sammie (Daniel) Ragsdale-Zaccara and Pamela Ragsdale-Lakatos, and nephew, Ash Dayle Moore, as well as 11 beloved grandchildren: Tristan, Henry, Theo, Brittany (Jordan), Dragon, Kaity (Trevor), Bella, Angie, Lucas, Joseph, Kaelin, and great-grandchildren: Jurnee, Marley, and Trinity.

Alice Anne was preceded in death by her former husbands, William Whitnall and Marshall Katch, and her parents, S.T. Ragsdale and Virginia Ragsdale.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Alice Anne’s life on September 28, 2025, at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, 10121 W. North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by the service at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Dementia Society of America 

The family extends its deepest gratitude to the compassionate staff at Layton Terrace's Spring House memory care unit and the Preceptor Hospice care team, as well as dear friend Dwight Lassiter, for their incredible support during Alice Anne’s final months. We will carry the gifts of her strength, vitality, and humor with us always.