MONONA - Audrey P. Simonson, age 91, of Sun Prairie, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at New Perspective Senior Living.

Audrey Pauline Sande was born on Aug. 9, 1932, and baptized on Sept. 18, 1932, in Chicago, Ill. She and S. Luther Simonson were married at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wis., on June 6, 1953. Audrey graduated from Rufus King High School in Milwaukee in 1950. She attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, Minn., where she obtained a degree as a parish worker. She worked in Chicago while waiting for Luther to finish his degree at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Luther's first call was to a three-point parish near Hibbing, Minn., where their first child, Deborah, was born. Nathanael followed soon after.

In 1956, Luther accepted a call as youth pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minn. Peter was born in 1957. In 1959, the family moved to St. Paul so Luther could serve at Saint Anthony Park Lutheran Church. Rachel was born in October 1960. While living in St. Paul, Audrey worked for SCOPE, the women's magazine of the ALC.

In 1963, they moved to Canton, S.D., to begin serving at Augustana Academy, a residential high school of the ALC. In 1971, the family made their final move to Madison, Wis. Audrey became a businesswoman when she and her two business partners opened the Artisan Gift Shoppe in Monona, Wis. She spent 27 years there, helping customers become plate collectors. Many people tracked the days she worked so she could assist them in choosing gifts.

Audrey is survived by her daughter, Deborah (Wayne); son, Peter (Denise); six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Luther; son, Nathanael; and daughter, Rachel.

A memorial service will be held at LAKE EDGE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4032 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Audrey Pauline Simonson

August 09, 1932 - February 07, 2024

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