Obit: Uhthoff, Audrey Ida (1940 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Cobb, Dahl, Heldt, Lefeber, Lehmann, Naylor, Nowacki, Uhthoff

----Source: The Record - Review (Abbotsford, WI) 10/13/2018

Uhthoff, Audrey Ida (Heldt) (13 JUL 1940 - 2 AUG 2018)

Audrey Ida Uhthoff (Heldt) passed away peacefully Aug. 2, 2018, at her home in Laurel, Del., with her family by her side.

She was 78 years old. Born on July 13, 1940, in a cheese factory, Audrey was raised on her parent’s farm in Athens. Growing up she learned to play the accordion and could yodel beautifully. Audrey farmed with her husband and children in Hamburg until the auction and sale of the farm. Moving to Kohler, Audrey loved being a housewife and thoroughly enjoyed serving the community while her husband managed Kohler Farms.

Audrey had a love of sailing. She shared a dream of sailing to the Bahamas and Caribbean Islands. In June of 1978, Audrey, her husband and their 8-year-old son set sail from Sheboygan for what was to be a 10-year journey. She spent time in all kinds of places along the way. Annapolis, Maryland, made an impression on her so much that she returned there to live. It was there where a small mobile boat repair business was started; it grew into a large full-service marina. The time came to retire and the marina was sold. Audrey eventually moved to Laurel, Del.

Retirement in Laurel brought new adventures for Audrey. Her husband was now a pastor. Audrey’s many talents and gifts made her a fine pastor’s wife. She shared his desire to be part of a church whose mission was to reach out and to serve the poor and homeless of its community. They worked with the congregation and served with great faith and commitment. Audrey continued serving the Lord as she had until her illness made that impossible. Her husband continued to bring her to church services until just before she passed.

Audrey loved talking to people, getting to know them and made friends everywhere she went. She was a terrific cook. Her massive cookbook collection spilled into several rooms. She would just as easily make a meal for two as for two hundred. Audrey made wherever she lived beautiful, warm and inviting, a reflection of herself. She loved to entertain, making everyone around her feel welcome and at home. On occasion, Audrey graciously opened her home to someone from the church who needed a place to stay for an extended period of time.

Audrey is survived by her husband, Pastor Steven D. Uhthoff, Laurel, Del.; and four children, Sandra (Walter) Lehmann and Debra (Ronald) Cobb, Sheboygan; Susan (James) Lefeber, Plymouth, and Steven R. (Tracy) Uhthoff, Annapolis, Md.; ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Raymond (Erika) Heldt, Fort Meyers, Fla., and Kenneth Heldt, Wausau; one brother-in-law, Lester Nowacki, Merrill; and one sister-in-law, Marge (Ross) Naylor, Richmond, Mo.

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Reinhold and Ester Heldt; her father and mother-in-law, Dunbar and Rosemary Uhthoff; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Edward Dahl; sister, Delores Nowacki; and brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Judy Heldt.

A memorial for Audrey will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 Elm St., Athens, WI.