Audrey Fosshage

Stoughton- Audrey Fosshage passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 19, 2022 at the Skaalen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Stoughton Wisconsin.

Born Audrey Louise Felland at Saint Mary's Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin on August 19, 1932 as the first child of Truman and Harmona (Hoover) Felland. After first residing in McFarland, Audrey and her brother Ron grew up in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where their father Truman was a businessman and later served as Mayor, and their mother Harmona was an active and treasured member of the community. It was in Stoughton, after Ron was born, that Ruth Myhre came to live with the Fellands and become a beloved older sister to Audrey. Ruthie and Audrey and their respective families remained close throughout the following decades, and the famous “Gilson Girls” had a special place in Audrey’s heart. Harmona Felland died in 1992 and Truman Felland dutifully followed his wife in 1993.

Audrey graduated from Stoughton High School in 1950 and attended Whitewater University. Audrey was extremely fortunate to have High School and College classmates that remained friends for over sixty years. Later in life Audrey lived and worked in Stoughton, West Bend, Fort Atkinson, and Bloomington, MN. In Stoughton she worked at both Stoughton Hospital and at Skaalen, as well as local businesses. Throughout her life Audrey was blessed to have a large and wonderful collection of friends, classmates, neighbors, coworkers and caregivers. Her family thanks each and every one of them for the joy, support, laughter, and fellowship they provided to Audrey throughout her long life, and especially during her residence at Skaalen.

In 1952 Audrey became a war bride, marrying Edgerton native and High School sweetheart Fred Stark prior to his call-up to active duty and eventual service in the Korean War. Upon Fred's return he and Audrey lived in Edgerton and were blessed with Jim, Sue, and Bill. The family later moved to Henry Street on the east side of Stoughton.  Fred operated a small local business in Stoughton until his sudden death in 1966. Audrey and the kids moved to West Bend WI after her marriage in 1968 to Neal Fosshage. There the family was blessed with Nancy.  Eventually Audrey, Neal and Nancy also resided in Fort Atkinson and in Bloomington MN. Audrey returned to Stoughton to assist her parents during their final years and for the majority of the past thirty years she has resided on the East Side of Stoughton: in the family house on Main Street, in Vennevoll, in the Heritage Center, and lastly in Skaalen skilled nursing where her window faced her former Henry Street house. Audrey's brother Ron Felland, himself a former businessman in Stoughton, passed away in 2001. Ruth Gilson passed away in 2008. Neal Fosshage passed away in 2012.

In addition to her children Jim, Sue, Bill and Nancy, Audrey was blessed with and survived by wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren: Martha (husband Ronnie and children Bodhi and Lilah), Ben (special friend Winnie), Andrew, Emily, Matthew, David (wife Nicole) and David's sister Kellie (husband Blake and children Rocco and Stevie). It brought great joy to Audrey that her four children stayed close to each other as they progressed in their individual journeys in life. Audrey requested cremation, but she does have a remembrance stone in the Stoughton East Side Cemetery, lying between her beloved brother Ron and her parents Harmona and Truman.

Due to COVID-19 limitations, a public Celebration of Life will not be held at this time for Audrey. However, if you desire to take a moment to say goodbye to Audrey, please do so in your own manner. Perhaps a meal in person or virtually with family, friends or neighbors. Maybe with a brandy old fashioned sweet. Or possibly just pick up the phone and call someone special that you have not seen in a while. If you have a desire to do so, make a donation to any organization that is important to you. Or perhaps to the Skaalen Resident Benevolent Care Endowment Fund (Skaalen Retirement Services 400 N. Morris St. Stoughton, WI 53589). The Fund assists Skaalen in covering charitable care costs and is available to all Residents in the Nursing Home and Assisted Living who have exhausted their personal resources.

Please share your memories of Audrey by posting on her Tribute Wall.

Cress Funeral Services

206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244