Audrey W Franken

Audrey Rose Worth Franken, 102, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2023, after a long and fulfilling life. She was a well-loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. Audrey was highly respected in the community and will be immensely missed by family and friends.

Audrey was born August 4, 1920, and grew up in Milwaukee in the 1920’s and 30’s, where she developed lifelong friends and demonstrated early on her passion for service and leadership. She also loved playing sports and participated in three sports in high school, basketball, field hockey and softball. She was involved in and was the president of multiple clubs and organizations during her high school and college years. She graduated in 1941 from Wisconsin State Teachers College Milwaukee (University of Wisconsin Milwaukee) with a teaching degree that prepared her to continue into the next phase of her life.

Audrey’s first teaching job was at Irwin School in De Pere, Wisconsin. De Pere was also where she met her husband, Paul Franken at a social event at the Union Hotel. Audrey quit teaching school while she raised her children for 16 years and returned to teaching in 1959 at Dickinson Elementary School. She taught second grade and kindergarten during her time at Dickinson and returned in 1981. One of her colleagues described her as a “truly dedicated and talented professional recognized not only by her fellow teachers, but also by parents, who always hoped their children might be assigned to her homeroom”. Audrey loved teaching and she taught for a total of twenty-five years at Irwin and Dickinson in the De Pere School District.

Audrey was very active and involved in the De Pere community. She served in leadership positions in the March of Dimes (where she headed up its annual fundraiser) and captained the East Side Drive, where she helped raise money to renovate the old Nicolet HS which became Abbot Pennings HS. She served as president of the Catholic Women’s Club, St. Joseph’s Guard of Honor, St. Mary’s Christian Mother’s Society, and Abbot Pennings Parents Club.

Audrey was a lifelong Packer fan and loved being outdoors. She was an avid swimmer, golfer and played tennis well into her 80’s. She loved to travel and saw much of the United States, including Alaska, on long road trips. Some of her favorite vacations were the multiple trips with teacher friends to Hawaii and Las Vegas during their spring breaks. She was able to get to Europe seven times and visited relatives in New Zealand. After one of her European trips, Audrey co-authored an article for the Green Bay Press Gazette about the Dutch settlers who came to the area from Broekhuizen Vorst, Netherlands, the ancestral home of many De Pere residents including the Frankens.

Audrey left behind a large family who loved her dearly- her children Michael (Mary Ann), Christopher (Lin), and Lynda Weingart (Mark). She also who had two sons who predeceased her: Paul “Toddy” (died age five of polio) and Peter (Sandy) who passed in 2009. She has a sister Helen and many nieces and nephews.

Audrey’s grandchildren and great grandchildren were an important part of her life. She played with them, cared for them, and was present at their activities and milestones. They loved her “to the moon and back” and will miss her beautiful smile and sweet disposition. They not only saw her as their grandmother but as an accomplished person and role model.

Audrey was blessed with a joyful spirit, endless optimism and a thoughtfulness which brought love and comfort to others. Her smile could brighten any day, and those who knew her were blessed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul of Green Bay.

Family and friends may gather on Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 9:00 am until 10:45 am at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4805 Sportsman Drive, De Pere. The Mass of Christian Burial for Audrey will be celebrated at 11:00 am with Rev. Mike Ingold officiating.