 | Audrey Margaret Fox
April 20, 1935 ~ April 2, 2023 (age 87)
Our family lost its heart when our beautiful mother, age 87, left this world on April 2, 2023—the morning of Palm Sunday. While we grieve deeply for what we have lost, we rejoice in knowing that hers was a life well lived and well loved.
Audrey was born on April 20, 1935, in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, the daughter of Nicholas and Anna (Klister) Brittnacher. She graduated from Wrightstown High School in 1953 and began working as a teller at the Greenleaf State Bank.
Around this time, she met her future husband, Marvin Fox, when he spotted the pretty, dark-haired girl across the dance floor at the Nightingale in Kaukauna. He worked up the courage to ask her to dance—and the rest is history. They were married in 1954, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Wrightstown, enjoying 67 years of marriage before Dad passed away in January of 2022.
While Dad worked on the family dairy farm with his father, Mom continued working at the bank until their first child was born. After that, she became a full-time farmer’s wife, raising the children while helping on the farm and taking care of the household. In the mid-60s, they moved out of the three-bedroom “starter home” they built together, trading houses with Dad’s parents to make room for their growing family that eventually included nine children in all.
Mom had many talents and interests. She tended a large garden, canned fresh fruits and vegetables, and loved to bake. She was an excellent seamstress, making clothes for her children, as well as outfits for the girls’ Barbie and other dolls. She crocheted afghans, giving one to each of her children and future in-laws as shower and wedding gifts. Mom was at her most artistic when creating the many, many ceramic figurines that she lovingly painted to also give as gifts over the years. On top of all that, she served for 20 years as a 4-H leader, was a member of the Town of Kaukauna Historical Society and worked as the bookkeeper for Dad’s DeLaval dairy equipment business.
As much as she loved being a mother, she may have loved being a grandmother even more. As each grandchild entered kindergarten, she found a way to celebrate that precious milestone. For many years, she held “Back-to-school” parties at her home where the grandchildren had a blast playing silly games, doing skits (complete with scripts and costumes), and enjoying food and cake. Memories were created that we all will cherish forever.
Mom also enjoyed travelling. Over the years, she and Dad visited most of the 50 states and had also travelled to Canada and Germany.
Audrey is survived by her nine children: Bob Fox (special friend, Lori Olson), Kaukauna; Lynn (Steve) Schmeichel, Appleton; Gary (Tammy) Fox, Kaukauna; Dan (Sally) Fox, Wrightstown; Mary (Chuck) Rafferty, Neenah; Sue (Rick) Konkle, Kaukauna; Joan Maloney, Menomonee Falls; Rich (Kristy) Fox, Kaukauna; and Greg (Mary) Fox, Kaukauna. She also is survived by her 22 grandchildren: Nicholas (Mary), Patrick (Amber) and Andy (Amber) Fox; Dan (Nicole) Schmeichel and Sarah (Joe) Murphy; Bryan (Amie) and Clark (Bobbie) Fox; Katie (fiancé Matthew Grady) and Kyle Fox; Haley and Laura Rafferty; Jesse (Vicki) Konkle and Jenna (Jordan) Weigt; Tommy, Alex and Kelly Maloney; Zack (Kristin), Riley (special friend, Lydia Carroll) and Travis (special friend, Ali Breier) Fox; and Bret, Cody and Clair Fox. She is further survived by her 22 great-grandchildren, her sisters, Charlotte Micksch, Marian Diny and Rita Brittnacher, her brother, Nicholas (Gail) Brittnacher, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her parents-in-law, Nicholas and Lucille Fox, as well as by her sisters Catherine Peters and Eunice Nackers, and her brothers-in-law, Jerry Peters, Norb Nackers, Tom Micksch and Bob Diny.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at Holy Cross Catholic Parish (309 Desnoyer St., Kaukauna, Wisconsin, 54130). Father Don Everts will officiate. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.
The family wishes to extend a huge thank you to the staff of Frontida Memory Care in Kimberly for their loving kindness and for their compassionate care of our mother over the past eight months. We also are very grateful to the nursing staff of ThedaCare Regional Medical Center–Appleton who were so kind and caring to Mom in her final days.
Mom, we will love you always and are comforted in knowing that you and Dad are reunited and once again enjoying a dance or two in Heaven. |
1935 - 2023 (87 years)
