Founder of Anna Mae’s Bakery & Restaurant dies after battle with cancer

Anna Mae Wagler, whose pies were so in demand that she launched Anna Mae's Restaurant & Bakery in Millbank, has died. Tony Grace has the more.

A local businesswoman has left behind a sweet legacy.

Anna Mae Wagler, who was born as Anna Mae Kuepfer, has died after a battle with cancer. She was born in Mornington Township, now known as Perth East, in 1952, but she left her mark on Millbank, Ont. where we started a now beloved Mennonite business.

According to the website for Anne Mae’s Bakery & Restaurant, Wagler first began selling homemade pies at the end of her laneway in 1978. It was a way to support her family when her husband started experiencing health problems.

Wagler then opened a small bakery on Perth Line 72 thanks to her loyal customers. The restaurant continued to grow and is now a staple for people looking for a hot meal or a little something sweet.

Even though Wagler sold the business in 2001, the new owners are committed to upholding her values.

“It’s a family business,” said Amanda Herrfort, the current co-owner. “It’s always been a family business and living true to her vision of creating wonderful food for people at affordable prices.”

Wagler’s legacy, she added, continues on.

“She was very, very humble. She would never [like] all this attention. But she deserves the attention because she started a wonderful thing.”

Since her passing, condolences and tributes have been pouring in online.

Wagler’s family said it is a touching thing to see as they come to terms with the loss.

“The family has seen the memories posted on social media pages and want to say thank you for sharing those,” the family wrote in a statement to CTV News. “Even though many people knew her as Anna Mae, first and foremost, she was known to us as mom, grandma, sister and friend.”

“A wonderful woman”

Wagler was known as a talented baker and devoted family member. Throughout her life she fostered many children and attended the Bethel Conservative Mennonite Church.

When she wanted to start up her bakery, there were doubters.

“A study came back that [the business] would not be successful because this isn’t a road that leads anywhere,” Catherine Kuepfer, former assistant manager of Anna Mae’s Bakery & Restaurant, said. “Well, she’ll live there and see what happens. And it grew very quickly.”

Keupfer said Wagler was a hard worker and expected everybody else to work hard as well.

Soon, business was booming.

“She’d come to me and we’d go to the back and she’d hug me and we’d laugh and laugh and laugh and go back to work again because it was such a wonderful thing that – you wouldn’t have figured it out if you planned it that way. It happened fast,” Keupfer said.

Wagler would continue to serve her customers with that same sense of verve until she sold the business in 2001 to the Herrfort family.

“When she actually sold the business, it was because she wanted to spent more time with her family and she’s definitely a caregiver,” Amanda Herrfort, co-owner of Anna Mae’s Bakery & Restaurant said, “That is who she is to the core.”

The Herrforts say they are dedicated to honouring Wagler’s vision.

“We carried on believing the same things as her. We just want to create this wonderful, homey place for everybody to be able to afford to join us,” Herrfort said.

“Honestly, this town is the town it is today because of this woman. It’s very impressive what she did. She’s just a wonderful woman.”

According to an obituary posted by the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, in lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Stratford General Hospital and London Health Science Centre.