Audrey Thede

Audrey Steward Thede, age 91, of Black Creek, Wisconsin passed away at home on January 3, 2026.

Audrey was born on December 25, 1934 in the village of Shiocton, to the late Raymond and Laura (Winterfeldt) Steward, the fourth child of eight.

She attended Briarton Grade School, Briarton; Jefferson and Washington Elementary Schools in Appleton, Woodlawn (one-room school) rural Appleton, 9th grate at Wilson Junior High School, and three years at Appleton Senior High. She graduated in 1953 and went on to attend Outagamie County Rural Normal School in Kaukauna for teaching. She finished her schooling at Oshkosh State College, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in teaching while raising her family of three children and teaching during the process.

She began her teaching career at Cedar Grove School, Hortonville (grades 1-8) for three years; Spring Brook School, (1-8) Seymour, for five years; Shiocton Middle School, (7th) Shiocton, for 2 years; Little Chute Grade (2nd and 8th) for 2 years; and Black Creek Elementary for the final 29 years of her 40 year teaching career.

Audrey was a First Responder for the Town of Maine for three years, and a Red Cross CPR instructor.

Audrey was united in marriage to Quintin I. Thede on June 4, 1955 at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Appleton. After three years in Appleton, they bought one of Quintin's father's farms in the Town of Maine.

After she and Quintin retired, they complied and published five books of local historical interest. For many years, she emailed daily "Thoughts for the Day" from Monday through Friday to her children and grandchildren with a new life lesson each day and a summary of Quintin and her daily activities. She also put together in booklet form, "Quintin's Journey Through Cancer", a daily record of his experiences during his final days.

She was gifted with many artistic skills from wood burning, etching, painting, refinishing furniture, sewing, embroidery, crocheting, bead working and many other numerous crafts and skills of which most were given away as gifts. She also was a big collector of many things, especially Avon, angels, and special pottery. She kept individual photo albums for the entire Thede family of 16 plus her own children. Many scrap books, including all the Christmas cards they received and many other memories for the years to come were placed in notebooks.

She is survived by her children Debbie (Gary) Croell, Dana (Holly Combes) Thede, and Diana Oberg; grandchildren Mike (Kristy Nelson) Croell; Kate (Addison Harjung) Croell, Drew Thede, Lindsey Thede, Erin Oberg, Tara (Richard Wos) Oberg, Evan (Jake Kapinski) Oberg, Nathan (Rebecca) Oberg; and great grandchildren Sylas, Murphie, Jovie, Hoyt, Ailee, and KInlee.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Quintin Thede.

Keeping with Audrey's wishes there will be a private family funeral service. Burial will take place at the South Maine Cemetery at a later date.