Freeport – Audrey A. Stees, 92 of Freeport passed away peacefully at Parkview Home on December 25, 2024.  Born August 5, 1932, the daughter of Carl and Adelaide Andres.  She attended Peoria High School, Bradley University and graduated from Western Illinois University.  She married Arthur R. Stees, Jr. on July 25, 1953 and they moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Audrey and Art had four children:  Barrick, Jennifer, Andrew and Sara, taking up residence in Freeport in 1976 when Art became senior pastor of First Lutheran Church in Freeport.

Always interested in music, Audrey played the double bass in two regional symphony orchestras:  The Fox Valley Symphony and the Peoria Symphony and was the co-founder of the Fox Valley Youth Orchestra.

While living in Pennsylvania, she was employed by the Doubleday and Company Publishers as the final reader on their trade editions.  After moving to Freeport, she began work at Crum and Forester Insurance Company as a typist and advanced through the ranks until becoming the Service Center Manager for the local office which was a processing center for 14 midwestern states.  She also taught management and supervisory classes for Highland Community College in Illinois and eastern Iowa.

She is survived by her sisters, Carole Andres of Freeport and Marcia Burianek (Gary) of Loveland, Colorado.  Also surviving are her four children:  Barrick (Melinda) Stees of Long Beach, California; Jennifer ( Sam) of Freeport; Andrew (Cheryl) Stees of Chicago, Illinois and Sara (Kevin) McAuliffe of Cedarville.  Six grandchildren also survive:  Grace (Christian) Stees of California, Madeline Stees of Ohio, Kayleigh King of Freeport, Eva Stees of Chicago, Riley McAuliffe of Cedarville, and Carly (Andrew) Dorman of Red Oak.  Her legacy also includes two great grandsons, Julian Arthur Schnaible Stees and Brody James Dorman.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband and two infant granddaughters, Kera McAuliffe and Kassandra King.

There will be a visitation held on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at First Lutheran Church in downtown Freeport beginning at 11:00am.  A service will follow immediately at 1pm also at the church.

A memorial has been established for the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC).  Condolences can be left for the family at www.walkermortuary.com .