Obituary Draft

Audrey L. Harmann, an avid bowler and socialite, passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday night. She was 70.

She was born in Racine WI, on April 11, 1934 to Leone and Harvey Anderson. She grew up in Sturtevant, where she went to Case High School and spent the majority of her time carousing the streets until she met her husband of 52 years, at the age of 16. She married Arthur Harmann II on October 16, 1950 after courting for two months.

The two started a family right away, not only was she a mother at the age of 16, but she also helped in her husband's family business, the Sturtevant Depot. She worked there as a maid and waitress until it was sold in the 1970's. After they decided not to take over the family business, they started a business of their own, Sturtevant Liquor. They owned and operated it for 10 years with the help of their children.

In the year's that followed the closing of their liquor store she obtained a job at Spee Dee Packaging as a secretary. She spent the rest of her time working there, until her retirement in 1990. She also helped with Art's Carts, her husband's golf cart repair business.

She was a talented and creative knitter and sewer. She loved to make blankets, slippers, scarves and mittens for Christmas and birthday presents. Everyone looked forward to receiving one of her handcrafted blankets.

One of the things that she loved to do was traveling to Las Vegas and gambling with her family. Even though she was terrified of flying and needed a little "pick me up" in order to get on the plane, she always made it there in one piece. She was a very successful gambler, she always came home with lots of winnings that she loved to dangle in everyone's face so proudly.

"One of the things that I will remember is the time we all went to Vegas and we were walking through the airport. All of a sudden I felt a hand in my pocket. I turned around and there was Audrey with her hand in my pocket, I was dragging her through the airport after she almost fell on her face," said her son-in-law John Weiss. "Lets just say she had a little too many."

Another thing she looked forward to every year was camping at Devil's Lake State Park with her family. Here she taught many of her grandchildren how to fish. She also enjoyed the splendor of beating her daughter (Toni) at Scrabble (Something she loved to do!), baking delicious pies and sitting around the campfire telling the same story over and over. She would also find time to make a trip to Ho-Chunk Casino during her stay at Devil's Lake, where she would always come out ahead.

After living in her home on 90th Street for over 30 years she moved to Karnee's Kourt, after her husband became ill. She became quite the social butterfly in her time at the "home". She attended happy hour every week (she loved those brandy old-fashions), joined the Red Hat Club and played cards with her fellow residents.

She was a member of a bowling league for many years with her mother, daughter-in-law and grandchildren up until her death.

She is survived by her mother, two daughters, Toni Weiss of Union Grove and Victoria Shemeckel of Paris; four sons, Michael Harmann of Sturtevant, Arthur Harmann III of Sturtevant, Christopher Harmann of Rice Lake and Eric Harmann of Las Vegas, NV; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and one brother Mark Anderson of Racine. Her father and husband preceded her in death.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Pelitzer's Funeral Home, 652 Washington Ave. Burial will be held at West Lawn Cemetery Sunday at 9:00 a.m.