Phyllis Duffey

Ann (Phyllis) Duffey, 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on March 7, 2022. Born in Hilbert, WI on March 18,1929, she was adopted by Tony and Madeline Vanden Heuvel at the age of 15 months and was a Seymour resident most of her life.
She attended Seymour and Black Creek Elementary schools, Seymour High School and UW-Green Bay. She married her high school sweetheart, Tom Duffey, on October 7,1950. Together they raised 6 children. Tom had an auto supply business and Ann worked for dentist Dr. George Cisler.

In September 1979 their lives changed dramatically when they purchased the Seymour Times Press and took on the task of operating a small town weekly newspaper. Thanks to previous employees who were good and generous teachers, Tom & Ann succeeded in publishing the newspaper and a weekly shopper for ten years as well as operating a printing shop. Many other area residents helped them out through the years and they were well supported by local businesses.

In 1985 Tom and Ann, along with two local business partners, established the local cable television company which was subsequently sold to what was then known as Time Warner Cable. In 1992, Tom and Ann began living two lives, having purchased a condo in Fort Myers, Florida, spending six months there every year, continuing until 2015. They enjoyed many volunteer activities while there, specially ushering at a nearby performing arts theater. They happily saw "Phantom Of The Opera" 40 times!

Survivors include her husband of 71 years, Tom; children: Daniel K. (Linda), Oshkosh; Diane Loughlin, Worcester, MA; Tom (Cheri), Appleton; Dave, De Pere; John (Jenny), Dodgeville; Lisa (Tom) Molland, Sparta; grandchildren: Mike, Ruby (Paul), Marina, Emma (Sam), Liam (Sara), all of the MA area; Tom (Amy), Cedarburg; Collin (Abby), Appleton; Jeremy (Hannah), Green Bay; Miranda and Mason, Madison; great grandchildren: Malachi, Noah, Oriana, Green Bay; Ava and Sylvia, Cedarburg; Vivian, Appleton; Alena, MA area; niece, Jean Duffey, VA; nephew, Mike Duffey, NY; and a special "cousin-in-law," Jon (Sharon) Dyer., AZ.

Also surviving are Ann's birth siblings, most of whom she first met when she was 83: Renae (Marge) Ott, Forest Junction; Marlene Ott and her friend Mary Longsine, Milwaukee; Neil (Karen) Ott, Hilbert; Lynn Greenwood, CA; Lee Ott, Appleton; and Berdine (Tom) Piepenburg, Hilbert.

Preceding her in death were: parents, Tony and Madeline Vanden Heuvel; birth parents, Reuben and Verona Ott; sister, Mavis Ott Keller; brothers: Orrin Ott, David (Claremont) Ott, Reuben Ott Jr.; brothers-in-law: Patrick Duffey and Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Duffey; sister-in-law, Joan (Patrick) Duffey; father-in-law, Thomas W. Duffey; mother-in-law, Virginia Duffey Landwehr; and step-father-in-law Thomas Landwehr.

Visitation will take place at Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at 12:00 noon, Chaplain Judy Koeune-Brown officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

The family extends a special thanks to the staffs of Appleton Retirement Community and Moments Hospice for their care and concern.

Online condolences may be expressed to Ann's family at www.muehlboettcher.com