Audrey Wiseman

Alton

Audrey May Wiseman, 83, died in her home on November 2, 2017 in Alton, Illinois surrounded by her family and her wonderful hospice nurse. Audrey was born at home in 1934 to Eva and Fred Paris of Alton. She married David Wiseman in 1954. Their love lasted more than sixty-three years. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Mary Alice List, Lora Jean Dalton and Fred Jr. She is survived by her husband, her daughters Sarah Wiseman of Alton and Laura St. Gemme and son in law Bob St. Gemme of Charleston, Illinois, and son, Eric Wiseman and daughter in law Lori Baer of Lakewood, Colorado. She has one grandson, Nick Freund of Wausau, Wisconsin, and numerous nieces and nephews. Audrey was a lifetime Altonian, graduating from Alton High School and attending Shurtleff College. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts Degree from SIUE in 1980.

Audrey had many diverse talents and interests. She was not only a gardener, homemaker and seamstress; she was also an artist, showing much of her work in local art shows. Profound influences in her life were her older sister, Mary Alice List who helped raise her and was always a boon companion and artistic mentor and Ruth Means of Fosterburg, her cousin and fellow member of the weekly painting “class” that met in private homes for several decades and included quite a few of Audrey’s relatives and other area artists. Ruth and Mary Alice were also dedicated genealogists and infected Audrey and her brother with that bug, as well.

Audrey was a longtime member of Friends of the Hayner Public Library; she volunteered at Treehouse and worked monthly at Caravan for thirty years. She belonged to the First Unitarian Church of Alton (serving in all capacities but board president), Sierra Club, Nature Institute, and Audubon Society. She was a guest columnist for the (Alton) Telegraph and performed in many plays at Alton Little Theater. An excellent writer with a quirky sense of humor, a homemaker who put rocks, turkey feathers, and driftwood into beautiful arrangements all around the house, Audrey loved animals and had many pets over the years. She enjoyed canoeing and camping with family in national parks from coast to coast. She was never without her binoculars or drawing pad. She had a curious zest for life and was gracious and loving. Most important of all, she never forgot the words to any song and would help you out if you got the melody a bit askew. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Alton. Audrey will be buried at Fosterburg Cemetery after the service. Online condolences and guestbook may be found at eliaskallalandschaaf.com

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Audrey Wiseman

Alton

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