Obituary of Audrey Lucille Mettel Fixmer

Audrey Lucille Mettel Fixmer, 86 of Fort Atkinson died peacefully at her home on January 22, 2015 surrounded by her family. Born in Aurora, IL, January 25, 1928, Audrey was the daughter of Alois and Gertrude (Pattermann), Mettel. She married Robert (Bob) Fixmer (deceased) on August 23, 1947 in Aurora, IL. They had 11 children, 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She graduated from Madonna High School in Aurora, IL and received both Bachelor and Master Degrees of Education from the University of Wisconsin--Whitewater. With degrees in English and Education, Audrey taught English in the Fort Atkinson public schools for 22 years at both the high school and the middle school levels. An avid patron of the arts, she performed and directed numerous plays for both the school district and Fort Atkinson Community Theater. Some of the most well-remembered productions included Annie, Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Carousel, Midsummer Night�s Dream and The Blackhawk Pageant. Audrey was a member of St. Joseph�s Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson and wrote a column, Grandmom, for The Catholic Herald, the Madison Diocese newspaper. An avid writer, Audrey wrote a novel, Song of the Phoenix and published a collection of articles entitled, Growing Old Gracefully and other Likely Stories. She taught Communications, Public Speaking and Writing Your Life Story at Madison Area Technical College. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 2010 and an infant son, Gregory, in 1955. She is survived by her 10 children: Rob (Lee), Scotch Plaines, NJ; Tom (Janet), Firestone, CO; Tim (Carson), Cedar Rapids, IA; Elizabeth, Fort Atkinson; Kathi (Curt), Stoughton, WI; Kris (Mark Dziewior), Fort Atkinson; Gretchen, Denver, CO; Patty (Ernie) Gerhard, Fort Atkinson; John (Janine), Fort Atkinson; Mark, Fort Atkinson. Visitation will be held at Nitardy Funeral Home, 1008 Madison Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI on Sunday, January 25th from 2-6 p.m. and at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd, Fort Atkinson, WI on Monday, January 26th from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at Noon. Memorials can be made to St. Joseph School or Rainbow Hospice.