Anne Brenner, 77, of Thomasboro, was at home with her husband when she passed away at 10:25 a.m., Friday, July 7th, 2017. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, September 30th at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, 309 W. Green St., Urbana. A reception at the church will be held following the service.

Anne was born February 21st, 1940 to parents Dorothy Megowen and Earl Berkley. She married Andrew Brenner January 19th, 1986 in Urbana, Illinois. He survives. Anne is also survived by her sons Christopher Manton, Jonathan Manton, her daughter-in-law, Marta Gabnai Manton, granddaughters Reka and Luca and stepson Ben Brenner as well as her two brothers, Richard Berkley and William Berkley and sister Carolyn Sullivan. Anne was preceded in death by her parents.

Mrs. Brenner graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Chicago and attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education. After earning her master's degree in education at the University of Chicago, Anne started her career as a teacher in Urbana School District 116. She retired after more than 30 years, having spent most of those years as a learning disabilities teacher at Prairie School (now the Preston L. Williams, Jr. Elementary School).

An active member for many years of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, Anne served on a number of church committees, sang in the church choir and in an a cappella group, the Green Street Singers.

Anne was an avid gardener and voracious reader. Possessed of a keen and active mind, Anne's basic nature was characterized by kindness towards and compassion for all. Her first instinct in any situation was to ask how she could help. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her well.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Developmental Services Center at http://www.dsc-illinois.org/. Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.