AUDREY SCHMIDTKE

AUDREY SCHMIDTKE 03/19/1925 - 06/13/2025 Audrey Marie Schmidtke, 100, of St. James, died peacefully on June 13, 2025, at her home surrounded by family. Visitation will be on Friday, June 20, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Funeral Mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church in St. James on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 2 pm. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in St. James. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com. The family prefers memorials be given to the Schmidtke Scholarship Fund. Audrey was born March 19, 1925, to George and Lauretta (Walters) Ladd on the family farm in Mulligan Township, rural Springfield. She attended District 70 Country School, Leavenworth Catholic School, and St. Paul's Catholic School in Comfrey. She graduated from Sleepy Eye Public High School in 1942. On February 2, 1944, Audrey married Howard Schmidtke at Camp Roberts in California. Audrey was a graduate from Arizona School of Real Estate. She was an Extraordinary Minister for shut-ins for 15 years, member of the Catholic Daughters, Christian Mothers, St. Theresa Study Club, American Legion Auxiliary, and several card clubs. Audrey worked for JCPenney, Mode O'Day, and Red Carpet and Better Homes and Garden Real Estate companies. Audrey is survived by her children, Connie (Gary) Ploeger, Kathryn Schmidtke, Claudia (Doug) Nelson, Patricia (Stan) Finnestad, Marsha (Larry) Schultz, Laurie Green, Todd (Denise) Schmidtke, Paul (Angila) Schmidtke, and James (Ruth) Schmidtke; 36 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Mary Jean Patterson. Audrey was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard in 2018; daughter, Robin; one grandson; two granddaughters; two brothers; and one sister.