Audrey Dieringer

Audrey E. Dieringer, 92, died on Friday, May 10, at Heritage Nursing Home in Port Washington.  

She was born in Port Washington on May 24, 1927, to Bernard and Amanda Esselman Thelen, and was raised in the Port Washington and Saukville areas.  

Mrs. Dieringer graduated from Port Washington High School in 1945.  

She met Andrew Dieringer at Weiler’s in the Town of Port Washington and they were married on Jan. 26, 1946.

The couple farmed in Holy Cross in the Town of Belgium until 1994, moving to Cedar Grove for 13 years and then back to Port Washington.

They traveled to Europe in the 1970s and out West in their later years to visit friends and Mr. Dieringer’s uncles.

According to her family, Mrs. Dieringer loved the company of her grandchildren. Her eyes would light up whenever she could hold and cuddle another baby.  

Mrs. Dieringer enjoyed playing card games, especially sheepshead with her neighbors every week. She was a bargain shopper who liked entertaining and was known for her cooking skills.

Mrs. Dieringer is survived by her husband Andrew of Port Washington; children Jeanne (Ron) Karrels of New Holstein, Charles (Kathy) of Saukville, William of Houston, Christine (Ed) Perrine of Deering, N.H., and David (Cindy) of Stillwater, Okla.; 28 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; daughter-in-law Sandy Dieringer of Sheboygan; and son-in-law Dave Mertes of Grafton.

She is further survived by siblings Lois Anzia, Jerry (Kay) Thelen, Marilyn Averill, Katie Thelen, Richard (Barb) Thelen, Charles (Joan) Thelen, Erla Mae (Ron) Schneider, Rita (Clete) Schneider, Kathy (Don) Harmeling, Pat (Mary) Thelen and Mary Ann (Dave) Schowalter;  sisters-in-law Phyllis Stemper, Barb Dieringer and Betty Grant; and brothers-in-law Jim (Lynn) Dieringer and Dan Tedesco.

Mrs. Dieringer was preceded in death by her parents; children Stephen, Carole “CJ” Mertes and Robert; sister Ruth Tedesco; brothers William, Daniel (Nancy) and Clifford (Marty), parents-in-law Thomas and Olive Dieringer, brothers-in-law Marvin Anzia, Leroy Averill, Adolph (Jean) Dieringer, Ed Stemper, Tom Dieringer, Francis (Patricia) Dieringer, Gregor Dieringer and Peter Grant; sister-in-law Lucille (Don) Odekirk; and daughter-in-law Victoria Dieringer.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at Open Door Bible Church in Port Washington. The Rev. Sid Litke will preside.  

Visitation will be at the church Tuesday from 3 p.m. until the service.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested.

Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, is handling the arrangements.