Audrey J. Eiken

Audrey J. Eiken - 1936 – 2024

Mom was called home to God’s eternal embrace July 25th, 2024 following a courageous battle with cancer. She left this life, as she lived it, with grace and dignity, caring for and surrounded by those she loved.

Born in Eitzen, MN to Edgar and Gladys Deters on May 8th, 1936, she spent her early years on the family farm, attending school in a one room schoolhouse. She attended and graduated high school in nearby Caledonia, MN where she met her future husband, Gordy. She received a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Winona State University. She and Dad married on July 23rd, 1960 and shortly thereafter moved to the northern suburbs of Chicago where they each began their teaching careers.

Sons Todd and David arrived in the next few years and Audrey traded one job for many. She would be caregiver, chef, seamstress, nurse, disciplinarian, cheerleader, counselor, and role model for the rest of her years and would excel at each and every role. She was the best mom we could have asked or hoped for.

Audrey called Oconomowoc home since she and Gordy moved the family here in 1974, even though she had lived in Hartland since his death.

She was always with friends. People she had known for years or those she had just met, it didn’t matter much. She was so kind and caring, if you met her, you would become her friend.

Amazingly strong until the end, she was an avid golfer, playing locally every summer. She spent winters in Florida, driving there until just two years ago and playing 9 holes a couple times a week until just last year. She loved the theater and playing bridge and mahjong with friends. Her calendar was stuffed with social activities. She also had an adventurous love of travel, going on safari in Africa and visiting Morrocco, Greece and Croatia in the last few years. An Alaskan cruise was planned for August.

She is preceded in death by the love of her life, Gordy, and her parents, Edgar and Gladys Deters.

She is survived by her sons, Todd (Susan) Eiken of Mount Union, Iowa and Dave (Stacey) Eiken of Oconomowoc, granddaughters Lesley (Travis) Eiken of West Allis and Mary (Brad) Trevaskis of La Crosse, WI, grandsons Sam Eiken, currently serving in Saudi Arabia, and Andy Eiken, currently enrolled at UW Whitewater, and great grandchildren Molly and Lincoln Trevaskis.

She will be missed and fondly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

The family extends thanks and gratitude to the staff at the Pro-Health Cancer Center, Shorehaven, Western Lakes first responders and the Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit staffs at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital.

Visitation will be held at Pagenkopf Funeral Home - 2228 Silver Maple Ln, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM noon on October 5th, with services following.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages those moved to do so to contribute to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org) or the Oconomowoc Area Foundation (theoaf.org).