Annie Laurie Martin Birch (nee Heideman) left this world on January 2, 2024, exactly 98 years after she entered it on January 2, 1926. She passed away peacefully at her home in Kenosha, WI, surrounded by loved ones. She was born in Medford, WI, to the late Frank J. and Helen R. (Frantz) Heideman. She grew up on a farm in Ludington, MI, and later moved to Waukegan, IL, where she graduated at the top of her class at Waukegan High School. She met her first love, Joseph A. Martin, while ballroom dancing. They married in 1950 and built a home in Waukegan where they raised their four daughters. After the death of her husband in 1973, she met and married her “cowboy” Albert Birch and welcomed his four children into the family.
She is survived by her daughters, Marie (William) Shields, Joanne (Paul) Gagliardi, Annette Torgerson, and Elaine Martin; seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; her stepchildren, Gary (Cindi) Birch, Pam (William) Kachelmeyer, Ric (Elisa Castellon) Birch, and Kim (William) White; eight step-grandchildren, 27 step-great-grandchildren, and one step-great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph A. Martin; second husband, Albert Birch; sister, Rosemary Heideman; brother, Robert Heideman; and son-in-law, David Torgerson.
Annie was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker who later earned her Real Estate license and worked for Knox Realty in Waukegan for many years until she obtained her own Real Estate Brokers license. She was a hard worker and eager learner who always had a new project going and kept a daily “to do” list on her yellow legal pad to keep her on track. She cherished time spent with her large loving family and friends. She loved dancing, travelling extensively, camping, fishing, sewing, knitting, crocheting, crossword puzzles, swimming/water aerobics with a great group of friends, and most of all gardening. She tended a flower garden at the Kenosha Senior Center for many years and was part of the Keep Kenosha Beautiful program.
There will be a Celebration of Life later this year, hopefully outside in the nicer weather, as she wished.
