Ann Katherine (Schachtner) Austreng

Ann Katherine (Schachtner) Austreng, 40, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2023 after a long battle with cancer. 

Ann was born on January 3, 1983 to Ed and Therese Schachtner from Somerset, Wisconsin.  The fifth of six children, Ann had a spunky, joy-filled, strong spirit from the very beginning.  She attended St. Anne School in Somerset, where she became rooted in her Catholic faith, made life-long friends, and began her basketball career.  She continued to Somerset High School, where she excelled in academics and sports.  Ann was a fierce competitor in volleyball, basketball, and track.  On the basketball court, she scored over 1000 career points and claimed numerous individual and team awards.  In track, Ann dominated in the shot put and discus, breaking the school record in shot put and earning three trips to state.

Ann furthered her education at UW-Stout, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art with an emphasis in Interior Design in 2006.  A gifted artist, Ann was also a decorated collegiate athlete in track and field.  She was an All-American in the shot put and continues to hold the school record for outdoor shot put.

When she was still in high school, Ann met the love of her life, Bronson Austreng.  The two were united in marriage at St. Anne’s Church on September 16, 2006 and built their dream home near her family in rural Somerset.  They welcomed four beautiful girls into their family:  Megan (13), Elizabeth (11), Hannah (9), and Kailey (6).  Ann cherished her girls and loved being with her family.  While raising her own children, she also provided care for many kids in her in-home daycare.

Ann lived life with passion and joy.  She never missed out on an occasion for fun and enjoyed spending quality time with her family and many friends.  In the late fall, she enjoyed deer hunting with the guys.  In the winter, Ann loved going sledding with her family and taking snowmobile rides.  Summer brought opportunities for hiking, camping, extended family vacations, swimming, and running the Ragnar relay with her team. 

At every opportunity, Ann gave back to her community, particularly at her home parish of St. Anne’s.  She taught Faith Formation for fifteen years, led the Home and School Committee, organized games for the annual festival, served as a Eucharistic Minister, helped with Vacation Bible School, organized the Christmas boutique, coached basketball, and was willing to pitch in whenever a need arose. 

Ann will always be remembered for her bright smile, contagious laugh, generous heart, and welcoming presence.  She made friends everywhere she went and loved others whole-heartedly.  She treasured her family and was so very proud of her children and the beautiful, loving, strong girls they are becoming. Ann was a supportive, loving aunt to her nieces and nephews, attending their extracurricular events and always making sure that the family traditions were being kept alive.  For the past three years, Ann fought cancer with such determination, courage, and faith—the way she approached everything else in life. 

Most of all, Ann’s Catholic faith was the cornerstone of her life and a shining beacon to those around her.  Often, she could be heard saying, “Praise the Lord!” when something good happened, and “Jesus, I trust in you!” during difficult times. She loved Jesus and desired that others too would know his mercy and love, and she was always looking for opportunities to learn about and grow in her faith.

Ann is survived by her loving husband, Bronson, and their four daughters, Megan, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Kailey, as well as her parents, Ed and Therese; siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews:  Donnie, (Tracy), James, Dani, and Taylor Schachtner; Laura, (Brant), Juliana, William, Sophia, and Elsa Schimmel; Sara, (Mark), Isabelle, Henry, Lucy, Caroline, and Andrew Measner; Kristin, (Darren), Amelia, Adelle, Benjamin, and Olivia Dittman; Michael, (Andrea), Ruby, and Jack Schachtner; mother-in-law, Susan Austreng; father-in-law, Marty Austreng; sister-in-law, Jaedra and niece, Hartley Erickson; lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins; and countless friends.  She is preceded in death by grandparents, Fred and Wilma Schachtner and John and Audrey Kromrey.

The family would like to thank everyone for their amazing support, love, and prayers over the past three years.

Visitation will be at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater from 3-8 p.m. on Sunday, August 20.  Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, August 21 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church in Stillwater (as St. Anne Church is currently closed for renovations), with visitation an hour before.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.  A Somerset Memorial Scholarship Fund has been created in memory of Ann.  Checks can be made payable to SMSF - Ann Austreng Scholarship; P.O. Box 121; Somerset, WI  54025.