Audrey Ruth Steyer

Audrey Ruth Steyer was born September 26. 1928, the daughter of Lauren C. and Jennie Bailey Lietsch. She was born on the farm three miles east of Carleton. Nebraska homesteaded by her grandfather G.W. Bailey. Her first eight years of schooling took place in a one room schoolhouse, district 13, to which she rode her little black pony “Cupid”. She graduated from Carleton High School in 1946 and continued on to Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, earning her Bachelor’s degree in 1950.

That same year she was married to Wesley W. Steyer and together they launched their teaching careers. These careers, interspersed with continuing education, took them to various locations. They lived in Sumner, Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, Kankakee, Illinois, and Tucson, Arizona, finally making their way to Stockton, California where they made their permanent home.

Audrey retired from 34 years of teaching in 1988. About three years later she was blessed with three grandchildren, which provided a “never a dull moment” retirement for many years. Travel was also an enjoyable component of a good, long retirement, making their way to places such as Europe, China, and the Panama Canal.

Audrey was baptized in the Carleton Brethren Church at the age of eleven. She actively continued in her faith until she went to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her husband Wes in 2005, her parents, two infant sisters, and her brother. Lieutenant J.G. Bill Lietsch, who was lost at sea off Okinawa, Japan in 1945.

She is survived by her two sons and their wives, James K. (wife Julie) and Mark W. (wife Carmen) and three beautiful grandchildren, Drew Steyer (wife Elizabeth, great granddaughters Isla and Nora), Lexie Antonini (husband Myles, great grandchildren Laurel, Wesley, and Dawson), and Gregory Steyer. Carmen blessed the family with her two daughters, Jessica Tovar (husband Ismael their children Nikki, Junior, Jesse, and Jeni) and Carina Ferrel (husband Vincent, their children Cloe and Veronica [Veronica’s husband TJ, and their children TJ II, Nick, and Livi]).

Her ashes will be placed beside those of her husband in the Carleton, Nebraska Cemetery among many friends and several generations of relatives. Her spirit is now spending eternity with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.