Audrey Mattison

Audrey E. Mattison, 85, of Chippewa Falls, village of Lake Hallie, died Thursday, September 14, 2017 at Lake Hallie Memory Care and while under the care of St. Joseph's Hopsice.

She was born June 20, 1932 in Chippewa Falls to Signa (Dodge) Lassek, and was adopted by Mary (MacDonald) and Alvin Krause. As a teenager, Audrey was involved in horse shows, most notably, the White Horse Show of Naper, Nebraska, where she traveled all over the U.S. and Canada showing horses. Her parents owned Krause’s Café in Chippewa Falls, and that is where Audrey got her start as a waitress.

On April 18, 1951, she married Harland Mattison at Hope Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. They resided in Lake Hallie, and Audrey worked as a waitress at Jimmy Woo’s Restaurant in Eau Claire. Even while raising six children, she went to work at Halmstad School, where she called herself a “lady of the evening” vacuuming and cleaning the school after hours. She also worked as a meter reader for Eau Claire Electric and later worked in the office there, and after her retirement worked at the Four Corners Restaurant until 2005.

Audrey enjoyed going to the casino and playing cards with Harland. She also loved camping with her family in the camper that her husband built out of an old school bus; and spending time with family and friends. Audrey’s favorite things were smiley faces and angels…she had a good sense of humor and always tried to be upbeat.

She is survived by her children, Dean (Sandy) of Lake Holcombe, Mike (Lynn) of Wisconsin Rapids, Vicki of Cadott, Dan (Jill) of Chippewa Falls, Scott of Galena, IL, Jon (Peggy) of Chippewa Falls; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harland on January 21, 2015; two sisters, Elizabeth “Brownie” Krause, Mary Helen Thiede; a brother in infancy, Daniel Krause; a brother-in-law, Merrill Thiede; a grandson, Bryan Mattison; and a great-grandson, Garrett Tio.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 19 at Hope Lutheran Church in Eau Claire with Pastor Rick Lund officiating. Private interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Tuesday at the church.

Memorials may go to the Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) chapter of your choice; the Alzheimer’s Association; or to the charity of your choice.

Audrey’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Lake Hallie Memory Care and to St. Joseph’s Hospice for their compassion, support and concern. Your care was deeply appreciated.

Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, Chippewa Falls is serving the family.

Visit pedersonvolker.com to express online condolences.