Anna Marie Zembruski

My Wife, Anna Marie Zembruski
Although we all eventually pass, there were so many things that made my “Anna Banana” truly special in this life. Born to Elroy and Sylvia Verhein on December 11, 1953, Anna was the second of six children. As the first girl, she was named after her grandmother, Anna Josephine Gnacinski—a wonderful woman in her own right.
Anna graduated from Pulaski High School in 1972, and after two years of courtship, she made me the luckiest guy alive by agreeing to marry me. Over our 53 years of marriage, we were blessed with four children: Jennifer, Thomas Jr. (Amy), and our twins, Aimee (John) and Annie (Matthew). Each child held a special place in Anna’s heart, reflected in the four little ladybug tattoos on her right foot. Anna was also a loving grandmother to six wonderful grandchildren: Marek, Joslyn, Taylor, Skylar, Mila, and Aiden.
Anna loved her garden, and because of her, our yard looked like a small, beautiful park—something she tended to year after year with pride and dedication. She adored our pets as well. First, our cockapoo, Odie, who was with us for 18 years, and later her three beloved cats, including Busta, a stray Anna took in. Busta surprised us with a litter of six kittens, two of whom—Buddy and Baby—became part of our family. Anna cared deeply for all animals and wildlife, faithfully feeding the birds, chipmunks (“Chippy”), and squirrels every day.
Some of Anna’s fondest memories were the annual canoe trips she took with her girlfriends down the Wisconsin River, camping overnight on the sandbars. She was also an avid Brewers fan who rarely missed a game, whether she was watching from home or sitting in the bleachers at County Stadium—always with her glove, just in case she could snag a ball. Anna loved her Packers, too, and created a family tradition: every time the Packers scored, we passed around a plush football. If anyone dropped it, we had to start over— to provide good luck for the team, of course. Never just a spectator, Anna excelled in sports herself, playing tennis, volleyball, and softball for many years.
Anna was also a wonderful mother. Each of our children could fill a book with stories of her love. She especially enjoyed decorating for the holidays—both inside and outside the house—particularly for Halloween and Christmas. She loved dressing up to hand out candy to neighborhood kids and took pride in bringing out all of her special decorations she had made and collected over the years. She was more than just a collector of things—she was a collector of memories, of people, of relationships.
Music was another joy in Anna’s life. She grew up listening to the Beatles, Carole King, Smokey Robinson, and Barry Manilow. She faithfully attended Summerfest for many years and had remarkable luck calling in to radio contests, once winning a trip to the Grammy Awards in New York. Other memorable trips she won included Jamaica, Las Vegas, Brewers spring training, and even a Packers playoff game in Dallas.
Anna was special in her role as a caregiver as well. She built lasting relationships with the senior citizens she cared for, particularly Ed and Pat, who became so close to us that they were considered part of our family. Anna’s generosity, empathy, and focus on giving defined who she was.
Eventually, however, God calls all of us home, and He knew Anna would soon be needed in heaven. Despite her cancer diagnosis, Anna never lost her faith. She fought bravely and without complaint. It was a blessing for friends and family to spend time with her and to care for her just as she had cared for so many others throughout her life. She passed peacefully in her sleep on January 30, 2026, in the comfort of the home she had cherished for over fifty years.
This is only a glimpse of the beautiful person who graced my life for 55 years—someone I will grieve and think about every day until I join her again. Until then I’ll live by the words that Anna kept on a small piece of paper in her wallet. It read:
Live as well as you can
For as long as you can
With the best people you can find
Thank you for the wonderful life you gave me. Rest in peace, my sweet Miss Anna.
— Thomas Zembruski Sr.