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Obituary: Audrey “Oma” Mae (Sohns) Grasse

May 23, 1933 – March 31, 2022

Audrey “Oma” Mae (Sohns) Grasse, 88, of Sister Bay, died at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay with her family at her side on March 31, 2022.

She was born in Fish Creek on May 23, 1933 to Walter and Ella (Pelke) Sohns. Audrey was raised at her family farm on Maple Grove East Road, near “BS Corners.” She attended Gibraltar High School, where she participated in the band, choir, cheer squad, and was crowned homecoming duchess before graduating in 1951. She then attended and graduated from Door-Kewaunee Normal School in Algoma and began teaching at the one room schoolhouse in Liberty Grove, before marrying Frederick Erdmann Grasse of Sister Bay on October 16, 1954 at the Zion United Methodist Church in Fish Creek.

Fred’s job with the National Security Agency took them to Virginia where she taught in Arlington. Then they headed overseas to England, France, Germany, and Turkey. Once they started a family, she devoted her time to supporting and encouraging her children, along with volunteering for the American Red Cross and leading the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. In between Fred’s stations in Europe, the family lived near the NSA headquarters in Maryland.

Upon Fred’s retirement, the couple returned to Door County in 1981 and lived in Fish Creek until settling down in Sister Bay. Audrey taught water aerobics at the Northern Door YMCA and was proud of her time spent as a charter member of the SCAND Auxiliary and Bargains Unlimited. She was an amazing cook, loved to read and socialize, and always had a story to tell, usually involving one of her “cousins.” She also loved cheering on the Bucks, Brewers, Badgers and Packers.

Audrey is survived by her brother Louis Sohns and his wife Betty; her 5 children, Karla Green, Karen Grasse, Kent Grasse, Kristine Kordon, Kurt Grasse and his wife Andrea; and 6 grandchildren, Anderson, Emmett, Maria, Jon, Gabriel, and Sten. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on May 23, 2022 at the Moravian Church of Sister Bay. A private Burial Service will be held at a later date at the Little Sister Cemetery of Sister Bay. 

In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be sent in Audrey’s name to Bargains Unlimited (P.O. Box 1037, Sister Bay, WI 54234).