Audrey Leiterman

Audrey Leiterman was the first child of Helen (nee Carlson, 1911-2005) and Clarence Leiterman (1911-1978), born September 13, 1940 at St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan. She was born with an intellectual disability, which prevented her from such basic markers of independence as learning to read or drive, sources of great frustration to her.

Her limitations were not obstacles to her relationships with her four younger brothers and their families, as well as her cousins, aunts and uncles, however. Audrey was a shy presence but had a sense of playfulness and humor that sometimes reduced her to joyful tears. She would engage with abandon as a woman in her 40s and 50s in pillow fights with her nieces and nephews.

She lived for most of her adult life with her parents in their house on Dillingham Avenue in Sheboygan. Though limited rehabilitation services existed for intellectually disabled people in that time, her mother worked feverishly to find what was available. Through Helen’s work, she participated in what activities she could, for example, bowling in the Special Olympics, which she enjoyed. A good Wisconsin woman, Audrey could always be counted on to agree to be dealt in to a hand of cards, or sit gamely at the table if the rules were too complicated.

Audrey lived from 1985 to 2020 in supportive housing in Jefferson, Wisconsin at St. Coletta, a Franciscan organization providing services to adults with developmental disabilities. At St. Coletta, she worked in the kitchen as a way to contribute to her housing costs. Her ability to work was a source of great pride to her. She was a friend and quiet companion to many of her fellow residents over her 35 years there.

She died on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Ingleside Community in Mt. Horeb Wisconsin. She will be missed by her brother Thomas Leiterman and his partner Ann Hodges, and his daughters: Hannah Leiterman and her husband Henry Lugo, and Rachel Leiterman and her husband Noam Shendar; and her brother Carl Leiterman, and his wife Susan Jackan, and their children: Zachary Leiterman and Luke Leiterman, and his wife Marie Jose (Tatah), and grandchildren: Mikayla, Daniela and Dominick. She was preceded in death by her brother Theodore, but is survived by his children Hans Leiterman and his wife Claire Landis, and Gretchen Leiterman; as well as her brother Steven, but is survived by his widow Ellen Leiterman (Grohskopf), and her children Jennifer and her husband Mark Schommer and their sons Connor and Quintin, and her son Michael and his wife Sarah (Noonan), and their sons Leopold and Augustus.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ingleside for their skill and compassion, particularly several CNAs who cared for Audrey with humanity and friendship, which she valued a great deal.

A reception at 10:00 followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Sheboygan.