Anne McCoy Mehls, age 84, passed away at The Deerfield in New Richmond, Wisconsin on Friday, March 18, 2022.
Born in Sparta, Wisconsin on June 8, 1937, Anne was the daughter of Lt.Col. Douglas and Joan (Austin) McCoy, and the granddaughter of Gen. Robert Bruce and Lillian (Riege) McCoy; and Loren and Anna (Knowlton) Austin. Graduating from Sparta High School in 1955, she went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire in 1959 with a B.S. degree in education.
Anne was preceded in death by her beloved parents, a great-niece, and numerous other relatives and friends.
Survived by her loving husband, Chuck, and her four children: MaryBeth (Dennis) Raddatz, Daniel (April) Mehls, David (Shannon) Mehls, and Peter (Kirstin) Mehls; ten grandchildren: Scott, Randall and Gretchen Raddatz; Elizabeth, Cameron and Carlee Mehls; Keilan and Liam Mehls; and Amelia and Benjamin Mehls; and two great-grandchildren. Also survived by her siblings: Joan (John) Clay of Auburn, Alabama; Col. Douglas (Carolyn Lunsford) McCoy, Jr. of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and John McCoy of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Following graduation, she worked as an Assistant Public Information Director for the Minneapolis/Hennepin County, Minnesota chapter of the American Red Cross.
On December 27, 1960, Anne was united in marriage to Charles “Chuck” Peter Mehls of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sparta, Wisconsin. The couple settled in New Richmond, Wisconsin, where Anne worked as a secretary for Doboy Industries and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (now known as Northwood Technical College) while raising her family.
Anne created her own business in 1967, “The Doll Closet,” and continued sewing custom-crafted doll clothes until her death.
She was an active volunteer at the New Richmond United Methodist Church, the New Richmond Heritage Center, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels, Westfields Hospital Gift Shop, and the square dance team, “The Willow Squares.” She also enjoyed her various friendship groups.
An avid seamstress, she was also a long-time golfer, figure skater, traveler, and genuinely enjoyed writing/journalism. She could always be found with several books by her reading chair and belonged to the New Richmond Friday Memorial Library’s “My Story Book Club.”
A Celebration of Anne’s Life was held on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the New Richmond United Methodist Church, 209 East Second Street, New Richmond, Wisconsin, and was streamed live through the link at https://bakken-young.com/anne-mehls-03-18-2022/. Visitation was held on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services, 728 South Knowles Avenue, New Richmond, Wisconsin, and on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the New Richmond Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements were with Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services.
