Audrey Schneider, 88

Audrey Schneider, 88, of Taopi, Minnesota, passed away Friday, August 16, 2024 with her loving family by her side.

Audrey Marie Sterling was born to Kenneth and Rosella (Gobel) Sterling on May 16, 1936 on a farm near LeRoy, Minnesota. Her brother Kent was born in 1941, and they loved each other in a special way their entire lives. Soon after Kent’s birth, the family relocated to Austin, Minnesota where her Dad went to work for Hormel. She often told happy stories of her childhood, mostly memories from her years in Austin. She grew up in a very loving, happy family and had many good friends. Singing was a huge part of their lives. It meant happiness and joy to her when her parents sang and whistled.

While at the Terp with friends, Audrey met Joseph Schneider. Audrey and her friends would go to Johnsburg baseball games, and they all ended up marrying baseball players.

Joe and Audrey were married on June 30, 1953 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin and honeymooned in Yellowstone. They lived together on his family farm near Adams, Minnesota where they raised their family. She was a loving wife and devoted mother.

She helped Joe with the farm work while also caring for the children. Audrey took care of the chickens, cooked for the bailing crew, gardened and canned. Audrey loved her flower gardens and it always looked beautiful on the farm. She sewed many of her children’s clothes and then taught them how to sew and cook. She was a good teacher as a 4-H leader and held 4-H classes in her home. Audrey was also a volunteer with the Adams Ambulance. She led singing at church and because of her love for organ music, she worked at Northland Piano and Organ and learned to play the organ. Audrey always wanted to learn new things and the computer was no different. While Joe did farm books, Audrey organized recipes and addresses with databases and reports.

Joe and Audrey enjoyed many camping trips with friends and family. They took their children on many fun vacations. She always encouraged her children to be open to new experiences, to learn about new things, and made sure they had the opportunity to do that.

After retiring in 1996, Joe and Audrey spent winters in South Texas. They enjoyed the warm weather and made many wonderful friends from all over the U.S. and Canada. Joe and Audrey did quite a bit of traveling, sometimes looking for Boyds Bears Dollstones. She loved collecting them as each were memories from her life, many from her childhood and her children’s lives.

Audrey had a positive attitude her entire life and always saw the good in everyone she met. Joe and Audrey had a full, rich life with good friends and relatives, and enjoyed spending time with them.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Joe; her parents Kenneth Frank and Rosella (Gobel) Sterling; and her brother Kent and sister-in-law Marlene (True) Sterling.

Audrey is survived by her Children: Christine Wiste (Mark) of Adams, Douglas Schneider (Kathy) of Bates City, Missouri, Susan Anderson (Tim) of Durand, Wisconsin, Jean Melenbrink (Glenn) of St. Louis, Missouri, Deanna Wickoren-Nelson of Maple Grove, and Joseph D. Schneider (Robin) of Chisago City, Minnesota.

Her Grandchildren: Mark Wiste (Holly), Kathy Erie (Clint), Craig Wiste (Britany), Vic Melenbrink (Andee), Andrew Melenbrink (Katie), Carissa Schneider(Justin), Stephanie Stabinger (Brian), Alissa Payne (Colter), Beth Lansford (Mitch), Bryant Schneider (Keli), Eric Anderson (Calan), Gina Fogue (Jared), Scott Melenbrink (Hannah), Brittany Wickoren (Matt), Josh Wickoren, Nick Nelson (Kris), Natalie Johnson (Dustin), Justin Nelson (Erica), Kayli Schneider(Edgar), Taylor Schneider.

Her Great-Grandchildren: Zack (Taylor), Trenton, Eva, and Asher Wiste, Cody (Claire), Cole, Cullen and Carter Erie, Cohen and Braxton Wiste, Drake and Avery Payne, Remington, Eloise and Winston Schneider, Barrett and Harrison Fogue, Smith and Whit Anderson, Emily and Allison Stabinger, Katelyn, Claire, Tucker, Caroline and Nashton Melenbrink, Lucas, Vaughn, Ellison, and Quinn Melenbrink, Anna and Jack Lansford, Benjamin, Dean and Joseph Melenbrink, Atticus Wickoren, Alex Nelson, Keatan, Corbin, and Madelyn Johnson, Hailey and Hunter Nelson.

Her Great-Great-Grandchildren: Kora and Korbin Erie, Maddox and Krew Wiste.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 24th at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg, Minnesota with Father James Berning officiating. There will be a 3:45 pm rosary at the Adams Funeral Home on Friday followed by visitation from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and a Prayer service at 6:00 pm. Visitation will also be at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning. Interment will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery.