An Interview with Ann Zenner
by Jennifer Parker
Ann Zenner was Unity’s parish nurse when I began attending. Anyone familiar with her knows she is a giver and Unity has certainly benefited from that.
What would you like to share with the community about your life?
“I grew up on a small dairy farm by Bloomer, Wisconsin. The pivotal point of our lives was St. Peters Church.” The school Ann’s dad attended still exists.
Ann’s mom had sisters that lived near them. “I remember my mother always wanted to help people.”
“We had a big garden and raised all our food. I was the girl, so I did all the garden work with mom.” They preserved food by canning and freezing. Ann said she was never going to touch another hoe, but when she had her own home, she had a garden with mostly flowers.
Ann attended Bloomer High School. “I graduated and worked at F&F Shoe Company. I dated and married Dennis Porter, who enlisted in the Air Force.” They had three children, Andy, Erin, and Laurie, and five grandchildren.
“When we married, my travels started. Life in the military was stressful. We were stationed in several locations including Goodfellow in Texas, Rantoul AFB in Rantoul, Illinois, and Wright Patterson AFT outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.” Eventually they were stationed at Hicham AFB on Oahu, Hawaii.
Ann associates her Hawaii years with the women’s movement of the 70s. “I was a product of the Women's Movement when women began standing up for themselves and I guess that is what I did; It was spearheaded by Eric Berne's book "I'm O.K., Your O.K.”
“After my divorce was final, I returned to Wisconsin and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing where I received a BSN. I got a job at University Hospital.” Ann worked mainly in cancer or oncology nursing, inpatient and outpatient. Later, she became a phone counselor for the Cancer Information Service that was all over the country, providing answers to people’s questions for six years.
When Ann saw a parish nursing brochure, it sparked her interest. She attended the seven day training and became certified as a Parish Nurse. Rev. Roger asked if she and two other people would provide that service at Unity, but the other two dropped out. “I developed a program of wellness, visiting people, blood pressure screening, ride your bike to work day. I really loved it; it was the best job I had.”
“I met Ken Munkres in 1980 at a friend’s Christmas party. He had his accordion there and I talked to him because I grew up with German music.” When he broke up with the woman he was dating, one evening he appeared on her doorstep and asked to talk to her. “He told me, ‘I’d like to take you on a date.’ I told him not yet; you’re just getting over your friend so call me in a couple of months. And he did.”
“We had a struggle because Ken was undiagnosed bipolar, and alcohol was his drug to control his anxiety. It put a stress on us.”
Ann was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. They thought it was cured, but five years later, they discovered it had spread. Ann had eight chemotherapy courses, and the cancer still didn’t disappear. She was one of the first patients to receive immune therapy, and three years later, she was cancer free.
Ken had difficulty coping with the cancer stress so she left him and moved to her current home. They continued to do things together but they each had their separate place.
Ann and Ken had a car accident, and he did not recover from it. She had to be in the nursing home for four months. “So, there have been some challenges in my life, but all in all I feel very fortunate. That I’ve been through cancer and the accident. I feel a great need to serve. I do it out of a sense of gratitude and feeling fortunate.“
What brought you to Unity?
Ann emphasized how important this community has been to her. “I was a single mom with two children finishing nursing school and was looking for a church. Because I was Catholic and I was divorced, they wouldn’t marry me again. I couldn’t fathom not having the ritual of a church wedding.”
Ann called around and was told there was a little church on Winnequah Road she might like to try. “It was a difficult time in my life and Unity was a nice, safe and comforting place for me. It’s been a home to me. I got so much from them, I tried to give back by volunteering.”
What are your favorite activities at Unity?
Throughout the years I participated in choir. Ann is part of the Garden team and has maintained the corner garden at church for years. She has been on the Hospitality team for over twenty years and helps with special event dinners. Ann also helped with Porchlight in the past.
“After Rev. Evin left, I was asked to do some of the care activities, so I formed a Care Team. I visit people and others do the scheduling.”
“Gardening is my favorite. I love being outdoors. Hospitality is also a favorite. I have a community garden plot, but this year I couldn’t tend it with my knee.”
Is there anything you’d like to see Unity do that would make your experience even better?
Ann would like more potlucks and community events like game or movie nights.