Obit: Granquist, Audrey Ellen (1939 - 2004)
Poster: Crystal Wendt

Surname: Granquist, Anderson, Hansen, Poppe, Amacher, Henke, Laakso, Rauha, James, Smith, Gotz, Marcott

Source: Herald Times Reporter (Manitowoc, Wis.) 16 July 2004

Granquist, Audrey Ellen (26 Jan. 1939 - 14 July 2004)

OWEN - Audrey E. Granquist, 65, Owen, died with her husband at her side on Wednesday, July 14, 2004, in Saint Joseph's Hospital's Palliative Care Unit in Marshfield.

Funeral services for Audrey will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2004, at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee, with the Rev. Bryan Anderson officiating.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Withee. Pallbearers serving are Norman Anderson, Gary Gehrke, John Hansen, Daniel Poppe, Bruce Amacher and Denny Henke.

Visitation with family and friends will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 16, 2004, at the Maurina Funeral Home in Owen and from 10 a.m. until one hour before the funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday at Nazareth Lutheran Church.

Audrey Ellen Laakso was born Jan. 26, 1939, in Owen, the only daughter of Einar and Ina (Rauha) Laakso. She was a 1957 graduate of Owen High School and was employed with Wausau Insurance prior to her marriage to Dallas Granquist on May 17, 1958, in Owen.

Audrey was a homemaker for most of her life. She was employed at Owen-Withee IGA store and later as a Customer Service Representative with the Wisconsin Gas Company in Owen and Marshfield for 22 years until her retirement.

Audrey, who was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, walked this life with a kind, caring, compassionate heart. She was actively involved in the Owen community throughout her life. She was the first woman to serve on the Owen City Council. She also served as president of the Owen-Withee Fire Department Women's Auxillary, secretary of the O-W Vets Club, and Drama Advisor for the Woodgrove Worker's 4-H Club, and was a member of the Election Board, Owen Library Board and Owen Junior Fair Board. Her love of music grew as she learned and performed violin, piano and voice. In her later years, she enjoyed listening to classical and country music and watching Broadway musicals. In her spare time, she was an avid reader and enjoyed sharing her love of sewing, needlework, crafts and crossword puzzles.

Audrey will be deeply missed by her family, including her husband of 46 years, Dallas Granquist of Owen; one son, Kevin (D'Anne) Granquist of Marshfield; and four daughters, Kim (Garth) James of Belgrade, Mont., Debra (Kurt) Smith of Withee, Julie Granquist of Hurst, Texas, and Darla (Van Patrick) Gotz of Wisconsin Rapids. She deeply loved her 13 beautiful grandchildren: Amanda, Heather, Clint Marcott and Brooke James, Keith, Brittany, and Aidan Smith, Jordan, Brady and Lydia Sue-Ellen Granquist, and Benjamin, Jakob and Sydney Ellen Gotz.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her two beloved brothers, Arthur and Oscar Laakso.

Maurina Funeral Home of Owen assisted the family with arrangements.