Audrey Tehan

Audrey J. Tehan, 86, of Wausau, Wisconsin, passed away on August 6, 2017 at Primrose Retirement Community in Wausau. Audrey was born on June 27, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Everel T. Pierick and Ethel D. (Druse) Pierick. She married Robert E. Tehan, Jr. on September 5, 1953 at Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee. Audrey attended Shorewood High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She graduated in 1953 with a BA in Integrated Liberal Studies. Audrey and Bob loved to travel throughout the U.S. and to foreign countries, and visited all continents except Antarctica. The highlight of their travels together was a twenty fifth wedding anniversary trip around the world. Audrey was an accomplished pianist and loved performing for others. She was an accompanist for many soloists during her high school years. Like her father before her, she played the very challenging work "Rondo Capriccioso" by Felix Mendelssohn as her recital piece when she was a senior in high school. She performed many times in musical productions (often with her brother Ken) at Sun City Grand in Arizona during her later years. Audrey played the piano and led sing-a-longs for senior citizens in nursing homes, both in Arizona and Wisconsin, and brought joy to many through her gift of music. Even within the final week of her life, she played another of her favorite songs, "Stay as Sweet as You Are," for her great-grandchildren. Audrey was also an avid tennis player and bridge player. Audrey loved working on her crafts and sharing them with others. She was an accomplished knitter and made many sweaters, throws, hats, and mittens in her earlier years. She also was well-known for her prayer shawls, jingle bell blocks, and her famous "Mug Rugs" and "Happy Coasters" which she made in many colors and patterns and gave to anyone who wanted them. Her favorite color was blue, which she loved wearing and dubbed "Audrey blue," the same as the color of her eyes. Audrey is predeceased by her husband Bob who died on February 25, 1999. Her surviving family includes her brother Kenneth (Carol) Pierick, Sun City, Arizona; her sons William (Jean) Tehan, Wausau, and Paul Tehan, Cedarburg; five grandchildren, Katherine (Jeremy) Goetsch, William Tehan, Kelly Tehan, Brad Tehan, and Olivia Tehan; and three great-grandchildren, Elise, James, and Corrine Goetsch. She is also remembered fondly by many other relatives and friends. Visitation will be at St. Michael Catholic Church, 615 Stark Street, Wausau, Wisconsin from 9:30 a.m. to the time of the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2017. Private inurnment will take place later at Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield, Wisconsin. A fund has been established at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 101 W. Pleasant Street, Suite 210, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212. The Audrey J. and Robert E. Tehan, Jr. Fund will provide endowed memorial scholarships for graduates of Shorewood High School and Marquette University High School. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Newcastle Place in Mequon, Primrose Retirement Community in Wausau, and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for their outstanding services and loving care for Audrey. Stay as sweet as you are, Audrey.