Audrey J. Bartell

Audrey Jean Bartell, age 82, died on Saturday, July 14th, 2018 at Charleston House in Beaver Dam, WI. The visitation will be at Grace Presbyterian Church in Beaver Dam on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Pat Lyon will officiate and burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens in the Town of Trenton, Dodge County, Wisconsin. Audrey was born on February 6th, 1936 in Beaver Dam. She graduated from Beaver Dam high school in 1954. Audrey first worked for Wisconsin Telephone Company. But she then found a job that indulged her love of animals, working at the Beaver Dam Veterinary Clinic as a tech. Audrey did a little of everything at the clinic. Working with the animals, keeping the books. She was to the clinic what the character Radar was to the 4077th in MASH. She kept the place humming along. Audrey had a deep faith and was very active in the Grace Presbyterian Church. She often volunteered for the church and was involved in multiple activities and committees. Audrey was ordained both as a Deacon and an Elder. She always gave to others. As a friend said of Audrey, “The church was her life.” As mentioned, Audrey loved animals of all kinds. She had several dogs over the years, all dachshunds. Later in life she would pet-sit for people, with the dogs she watched always falling in love with her. But her greatest animal passion was reserved for horses. Her favorite was Stormy. She would ride him in parades and in horse shows. She taught him to do a trick, where when people clapped, Stormy would rear up and clap with his front hooves. Audrey loved him and spoke of him with fondness until the end. She was also a member of the Dodge County Boots and Saddle Club where she was the secretary for about ten years. Another great passion for Audrey was singing. She had a beautiful voice. She sang in the church choir and in groups like the Third Street Band and Bows & Holly. Even in her declining months, Audrey would still join in and sing along. It was one of the things that made her the happiest. Audrey lived her whole life in Beaver Dam and loved her hometown. She was proceeded in death by her father, Ted, her mother, Gladys, and her sister Vi. She is survived by her nephew, Tim. Audrey was one of the most positive persons you could ever meet. Smiling and cheerful, adored by all who knew her. She loved life dearly as she did her family and friends. Audrey was the happiest of people and always made others feel the same.