Audrey Otto, 83, of E11670 Lark Road, rural Osseo, passed away early Saturday morning, Jan. 5, 2008, at Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation in Eau Claire, with the comfort of her family at her bedside.
Audrey, daughter of William and Amelia (Steinke) Kersten, was born Feb. 25, 1924, in Ludington Township, rural Fall Creek. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fall Creek, attended Pine Grove Country School and graduated from Fall Creek High School in 1942. She enlisted in the military during World War II, serving from March of 1944, until October of 1945, in a clerical position with the U.S. Navy WAVES. She was united in marriage to Virgil Otto on March 18, 1945, in San Angelo, Texas. After the discharge of both Virgil and Audrey, the couple made their home on their farm in Clear Creek Township near Foster.
Audrey was an active member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, where she served on the ladies aid, as Sunday school teacher, with Lutheran Women's Missionary League, as a volunteer at Bethesda Thrift Shop in Eau Claire and quilted for World Relief. She also volunteered her time at the Osseo Nursing Home; and whenever the nursing home or area blood drives needed cookies, she supplied them, baking many dozen over the years. She was a member of the Osseo Legion Auxiliary and frequent visitor to the Highground Memorial Park in Neillsville.
In addition to raising her family, she enjoyed the farm chores and tending to her gardens. Through the years she canned a lot of the food her family ate, hating to let anything the Lord had provided go to waste. If she saw apples or berries unpicked, she gathered them, and what her family couldn't use she gave to others.
She also enjoyed her house plants, especially African violets, doing crossword and picture puzzles, playing scrabble, chicken foot, various card games, traveling and dancing. It was extremely rare not to see a warm smile on Audrey's face. She lived life with a smile and enjoyed collecting smiley faces. She was very family oriented, and no matter how far out you were on the family tree, she tried to keep in contact. She had a heart of gold, not only for her family, but for her many, many friends. She was a wonderful woman who showed tremendous love and was deeply loved in return.
Audrey is survived by five children, her sons, David Otto of Osseo, Charles Otto of Paradise, Calif., and Bill Otto of Chippewa Falls and daughters, Carol (John) Zemple of Osseo and Barb (Steve) Breitenfeldt of Eau Claire; five grandchildren, Christy Otto, Dan Otto, Jessica Otto, Jennifer Zemple, Valerie (Patrick) Dorrell; two step grandchildren, Michael Breitenfeldt and Tara (Dave) Graham; seven great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard (Dorthy) Otto, Doris Erickson and Mildred Carter, all of Osseo; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Virgil on Dec. 10, 1999; and siblings, Mabel Polinske, Margaret Henning, Amanda Odya, Grace Lange, Hazel Blizzard and Art, George and Frank Kersten.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, with Pastor Dennis Voss officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Audrey's name may be given to St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Audrey, daughter of William and Amelia (Steinke) Kersten, was born Feb. 25, 1924, in Ludington Township, rural Fall Creek. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fall Creek, attended Pine Grove Country School and graduated from Fall Creek High School in 1942. She enlisted in the military during World War II, serving from March of 1944, until October of 1945, in a clerical position with the U.S. Navy WAVES. She was united in marriage to Virgil Otto on March 18, 1945, in San Angelo, Texas. After the discharge of both Virgil and Audrey, the couple made their home on their farm in Clear Creek Township near Foster.
Audrey was an active member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, where she served on the ladies aid, as Sunday school teacher, with Lutheran Women's Missionary League, as a volunteer at Bethesda Thrift Shop in Eau Claire and quilted for World Relief. She also volunteered her time at the Osseo Nursing Home; and whenever the nursing home or area blood drives needed cookies, she supplied them, baking many dozen over the years. She was a member of the Osseo Legion Auxiliary and frequent visitor to the Highground Memorial Park in Neillsville.
In addition to raising her family, she enjoyed the farm chores and tending to her gardens. Through the years she canned a lot of the food her family ate, hating to let anything the Lord had provided go to waste. If she saw apples or berries unpicked, she gathered them, and what her family couldn't use she gave to others.
She also enjoyed her house plants, especially African violets, doing crossword and picture puzzles, playing scrabble, chicken foot, various card games, traveling and dancing. It was extremely rare not to see a warm smile on Audrey's face. She lived life with a smile and enjoyed collecting smiley faces. She was very family oriented, and no matter how far out you were on the family tree, she tried to keep in contact. She had a heart of gold, not only for her family, but for her many, many friends. She was a wonderful woman who showed tremendous love and was deeply loved in return.
Audrey is survived by five children, her sons, David Otto of Osseo, Charles Otto of Paradise, Calif., and Bill Otto of Chippewa Falls and daughters, Carol (John) Zemple of Osseo and Barb (Steve) Breitenfeldt of Eau Claire; five grandchildren, Christy Otto, Dan Otto, Jessica Otto, Jennifer Zemple, Valerie (Patrick) Dorrell; two step grandchildren, Michael Breitenfeldt and Tara (Dave) Graham; seven great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard (Dorthy) Otto, Doris Erickson and Mildred Carter, all of Osseo; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Virgil on Dec. 10, 1999; and siblings, Mabel Polinske, Margaret Henning, Amanda Odya, Grace Lange, Hazel Blizzard and Art, George and Frank Kersten.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, with Pastor Dennis Voss officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Audrey's name may be given to St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Audrey Otto, 83, of E11670 Lark Road, rural Osseo, passed away early Saturday morning, Jan. 5, 2008, at Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation in Eau Claire, with the comfort of her family at her bedside.
Audrey, daughter of William and Amelia (Steinke) Kersten, was born Feb. 25, 1924, in Ludington Township, rural Fall Creek. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fall Creek, attended Pine Grove Country School and graduated from Fall Creek High School in 1942. She enlisted in the military during World War II, serving from March of 1944, until October of 1945, in a clerical position with the U.S. Navy WAVES. She was united in marriage to Virgil Otto on March 18, 1945, in San Angelo, Texas. After the discharge of both Virgil and Audrey, the couple made their home on their farm in Clear Creek Township near Foster.
Audrey was an active member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, where she served on the ladies aid, as Sunday school teacher, with Lutheran Women's Missionary League, as a volunteer at Bethesda Thrift Shop in Eau Claire and quilted for World Relief. She also volunteered her time at the Osseo Nursing Home; and whenever the nursing home or area blood drives needed cookies, she supplied them, baking many dozen over the years. She was a member of the Osseo Legion Auxiliary and frequent visitor to the Highground Memorial Park in Neillsville.
In addition to raising her family, she enjoyed the farm chores and tending to her gardens. Through the years she canned a lot of the food her family ate, hating to let anything the Lord had provided go to waste. If she saw apples or berries unpicked, she gathered them, and what her family couldn't use she gave to others.
She also enjoyed her house plants, especially African violets, doing crossword and picture puzzles, playing scrabble, chicken foot, various card games, traveling and dancing. It was extremely rare not to see a warm smile on Audrey's face. She lived life with a smile and enjoyed collecting smiley faces. She was very family oriented, and no matter how far out you were on the family tree, she tried to keep in contact. She had a heart of gold, not only for her family, but for her many, many friends. She was a wonderful woman who showed tremendous love and was deeply loved in return.
Audrey is survived by five children, her sons, David Otto of Osseo, Charles Otto of Paradise, Calif., and Bill Otto of Chippewa Falls and daughters, Carol (John) Zemple of Osseo and Barb (Steve) Breitenfeldt of Eau Claire; five grandchildren, Christy Otto, Dan Otto, Jessica Otto, Jennifer Zemple, Valerie (Patrick) Dorrell; two step grandchildren, Michael Breitenfeldt and Tara (Dave) Graham; seven great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard (Dorthy) Otto, Doris Erickson and Mildred Carter, all of Osseo; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Virgil on Dec. 10, 1999; and siblings, Mabel Polinske, Margaret Henning, Amanda Odya, Grace Lange, Hazel Blizzard and Art, George and Frank Kersten.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, with Pastor Dennis Voss officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Audrey's name may be given to St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Audrey, daughter of William and Amelia (Steinke) Kersten, was born Feb. 25, 1924, in Ludington Township, rural Fall Creek. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fall Creek, attended Pine Grove Country School and graduated from Fall Creek High School in 1942. She enlisted in the military during World War II, serving from March of 1944, until October of 1945, in a clerical position with the U.S. Navy WAVES. She was united in marriage to Virgil Otto on March 18, 1945, in San Angelo, Texas. After the discharge of both Virgil and Audrey, the couple made their home on their farm in Clear Creek Township near Foster.
Audrey was an active member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, where she served on the ladies aid, as Sunday school teacher, with Lutheran Women's Missionary League, as a volunteer at Bethesda Thrift Shop in Eau Claire and quilted for World Relief. She also volunteered her time at the Osseo Nursing Home; and whenever the nursing home or area blood drives needed cookies, she supplied them, baking many dozen over the years. She was a member of the Osseo Legion Auxiliary and frequent visitor to the Highground Memorial Park in Neillsville.
In addition to raising her family, she enjoyed the farm chores and tending to her gardens. Through the years she canned a lot of the food her family ate, hating to let anything the Lord had provided go to waste. If she saw apples or berries unpicked, she gathered them, and what her family couldn't use she gave to others.
She also enjoyed her house plants, especially African violets, doing crossword and picture puzzles, playing scrabble, chicken foot, various card games, traveling and dancing. It was extremely rare not to see a warm smile on Audrey's face. She lived life with a smile and enjoyed collecting smiley faces. She was very family oriented, and no matter how far out you were on the family tree, she tried to keep in contact. She had a heart of gold, not only for her family, but for her many, many friends. She was a wonderful woman who showed tremendous love and was deeply loved in return.
Audrey is survived by five children, her sons, David Otto of Osseo, Charles Otto of Paradise, Calif., and Bill Otto of Chippewa Falls and daughters, Carol (John) Zemple of Osseo and Barb (Steve) Breitenfeldt of Eau Claire; five grandchildren, Christy Otto, Dan Otto, Jessica Otto, Jennifer Zemple, Valerie (Patrick) Dorrell; two step grandchildren, Michael Breitenfeldt and Tara (Dave) Graham; seven great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard (Dorthy) Otto, Doris Erickson and Mildred Carter, all of Osseo; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Virgil on Dec. 10, 1999; and siblings, Mabel Polinske, Margaret Henning, Amanda Odya, Grace Lange, Hazel Blizzard and Art, George and Frank Kersten.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster, with Pastor Dennis Voss officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Audrey's name may be given to St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Foster or to a charity of the donor's choice.
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