Grace Fanning

Grace Joan Fanning, born on February 12, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Charles and Freda (Schumacher) Waechter, passed away on July 28, 2025, at the age of 90. At the time of her passing, Grace was a resident of Red Cedar Canyon in Hudson, Wisconsin. She had previously resided in Hayward, Wisconsin, where she moved in 2002.

Grace was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Perry High School in Pittsburgh in 1952. After high school graduation, she enrolled at Florence Utt School for Receptionist and Switchboard training, earning a certificate of completion. She began working as a switchboard operator for Pennsylvania Bell Telephone Co. On November 21, 1953, she married her beloved husband, Bill Fanning, in LaVale, Maryland, at the LaVale Methodist Church. As a young couple, they lived in various places across the country, including Biloxi, Mississippi; upstate New York; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Ojai, California. Eventually, they built a life together in Hudson, Wisconsin, where they raised their two children, Beverly and Jeffrey.

A devoted homemaker, Grace found deep joy in cooking and baking for family and friends. While Bill served in the U.S. Coast Guard, Grace worked for the USO as a receptionist. During the 1980s and 1990s, she worked for the Village of North Hudson as Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, warmly welcoming community members at the front window. She also served as the Secretary on the North Hudson Park Board, reflecting her genuine love for the local area. She retired in June 1996.

Grace was also an enthusiastic traveler who explored many regions of the United States, but she had a special place in her heart for Door County, Wisconsin. Most summers, she and her family would retreat to its scenic charm, especially the towns of Fish Creek and Ephraim. She cherished those visits—spending hours soaking in lake views, savoring cherry pie, and browsing the area’s many one-of-a-kind boutiques.

In retirement, Grace and Bill enjoyed spending time in Florida, especially in Key West, drawn to its spectacular ocean views and laid-back lifestyle. It became another beloved getaway where they could relax and soak in the sunshine together.

Grace is survived by her children, Beverly Hagen (Ken) and Jeffrey Fanning (Melinda), and her cherished grandchildren: Mitchell, Vincent, and Jacob Fanning, and Justin Hagen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and her sister, Ruth D. Bachner.

A private service will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. Internment will take place at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the staff at Red Cedar Canyon—especially the Cedar Cove Memory Care team—and the staff of Moments Hospice for the kindness and compassion they showed Grace throughout her time there.