Rae (Schwanke) Rees: Lifelong Dedication to Kenosha

For Rae Rees, Kenosha was always home.

Born in 1935, Rae Schwanke spent her childhood in Kenosha, attending Durkee Grade School, Lincoln Junior High School, and Mary D. Bradford High School. She took classes at the University of Wisconsin Extension campus in Kenosha (a precursor to UW-Parkside) before attending Marquette University, where she met her future husband, Donald Rees. Marriage to Don and then raising a family led Rae to Quincy, Illinois, where she lived for the rest of her life.

However, Kenosha always held a special place in her heart. Rae and her family made regular trips back, and she kept up on news and developments in her hometown through a group of lifelong Kenosha friends.

Rae passed away in October 2025 at age 90, after a lifetime devoted to her family and her community. (Don had passed away in 2024.) When Rae made her estate plans, she wanted to continue her lifelong mission of encouraging others to pursue their education.

"Education was always so important to our mom," say Rae's daughters Jennifer Seals and Donna Rees. "She felt that with education comes opportunity and options. She was a great encourager for us growing up and for everyone to take those opportunities."

Given Rae's commitment to education and her lifelong love of Kenosha, Rae's gift to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside was a natural fit. Support from her estate from a retirement account has created the Rae J. (Schwanke) Rees Endowed Scholarship, which is dedicated to students with financial need. Rae's gift will provide UW-Parkside students - today and future generations - with the support they need to overcome barriers and earn their degrees.

"Rae's support is meaningful and shows us who she was as a person: committed to service and helping people improve their futures," says Devon Borst, UW-Parkside Vice Chancellor for Advancement. "We're grateful for people like Rae who recognize how UW-Parkside helps students and our region thrive, and invest in their success."

The family of Rae Rees and UW-Parkside welcome additional gifts to the Rae J. (Schwanke) Rees Endowed Scholarship, through checks to the UW-Parkside Foundation (900 Wood Rd., Kenosha, WI 53144) or gifts online.

To explore legacy gift opportunities at UW-Parkside, contact Hannah Wallisch, Director of Development, at 262-595-2233 or [email protected].