Audrey Jean Kagel

Audrey Jean Kagel saw nine amazing decades in her lifetime and lived them to the fullest, reaching 92 years old. She was born on February 4, 1930, in Grand Blanc, Michigan to Carl and Viva (Leflar) Wooliever, the youngest of six girls. Her only surviving sister Evie is 105 years old. Audrey attended Riverside High School in Milwaukee, WI. She lived in Frankenmuth, MI, Chicago, Shorewood, Milwaukee, and later in the Oconomowoc area since the early 1970’s. She passed on Saturday, November 26, 2022, of a fatal auto accident.

Audrey was very loving and loved by her large family. She was married to Warren Poehlman (deceased) and had 4 sons. Her twin sons, William “Bill/Willie” (Janine - WI) and Carl (Barb- FL) pre-deceased her. She is survived by her sons Warren “Chick” (FL) and Bruce Poehlman (Oconomowoc, WI), Willie’s children Wm Jalal Poehlman (CA) and Jalai Shelago-Hegna and great granddaughter Nora (WI), Carl’s son Samuel (Jessica) (MO), Chick’s daughter Amanda (Chuck) Hubert and great grandchildren Alex and Autumn (FL). Also survived by nieces and nephews.

She later divorced and was married to Charles H. Kagel for 40+ years, who pre-deceased her. She is survived by her step-son Jim (Lauren) Kagel (WI) and step-daughter Sue Kagel (Steve Pagac), grand-children Joe Pagac, and Stephanie (Alonso) Garcia, and great-grandchildren Noah and Ryan (AZ).

Having worked a variety secretarial/clerical jobs, Audrey’s passion was using her creative eye in retail clothing. She continued selling through Fuller Brush Company, enjoying the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, one being her long lasting friendship with Louise Piller, now of Watertown, WI.

A lover of life, caring and loving, she never met a stranger, was social and enjoyed lively conversations. She loved holidays, white Christmas lights, family time, entertaining, and gatherings with friends. Known as “the stuffer”, she loved making sure that people were well fed. Her motto seemed to be “if enough is good, too much is better.”

Known for her epic, intense greeting hugs, and infectious laugh, she was vibrant and vivacious, which radiated through her eyes and smile. She was fun-loving, active, adventurous, fiercely independent and had a positive, can-do attitude.

With dreams of being a singer, having been in choir, she knew all the popular songs of her day. A creative spirit, she loved art, especially drawing and painting original cartoon characters, some on sweatshirts that she sold at local craft fairs. Re-building their most recent home in Oconomowoc, she worked side by side with her husband and family members. Always ready for fun, Audrey said “Life is really one big adventure”. She was active, enjoyed lake and river life, swimming in their pool, boating, walking, gardening, bicycle and motorcycle riding, road tripping with her husband Chuck, and she was known to be a dead shot with a pistol.

As she aged, she set an example by working out six mornings a week at Curves in Oconomowoc until the pandemic. A favorite memory was when she played in a family baseball game six years ago, hit a home run and ran the bases, laughing all the way. She relished time with her grandchildren and great-grandkids.

Compassionate, encouraging, and caring for others were her dominant characteristics. Coming from her good heart, she checked in on her close friends daily. Her caring and assistance will be dearly missed. Always quick to help a stranger, she would sometimes help to pay for groceries for someone who was counting out change, and then take them out for coffee and a sandwich. Audrey always saw the good in people and never gave up on them which carried over to her love for animals, including her four cats and the outdoor critters that she named and fed.

Throughout her life, her deep faith carried her, and she prayed regularly for family and friends.

Her zest for life and love of having fun will always be remembered.

A memorial service has not been planned at this time.