Audrey Fae Grunden Krone, 82, of Gothenburg died on February 5, 2013 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, NE.

Audrey was born July 9, 1930 to Forrest and Blanche Grunden, north of Curtis in Frontier County. She was the third of four children.

When she was 3 years old, they moved to the Roy Dempcy place. At the age of 8, the family moved to the Wolenezie farm and she attended District 76 School. She attended and graduated from NSA in Curtis in 1947. Upon graduation, she taught at the Austin County School, located north of Ingham. She also taught at District 4 for 1 year following her marriage to Ed Krone on July 9, 1948. They were married on her 18th birthday by Rev. Moon at the Methodist Church in Gothenburg. They had originally planned on getting married on July 10th, but it had rained and they couldn't work, so they said, 'why not' and got married on her birthday instead. They took the train to Denver for their honeymoon, and almost missed the train on the trip home.

Ed and Audrey lived their married days on the Krone place located 7 miles north of Moorefield and were blessed with 5 children: Emilyn Kay, Edward Robert Jr, Cheryn Sue, Donna Jo and Mary Rose.

Audrey was an active partner on the family farm and in the neighborhood. She attended the Church of God in Moorefield, was a 4-H parent of the Tri County 4-H Club in Lincoln County, a member of the Farnam School Board, the Neighborly Belles Extension Club, Frontier County Extension Vice and Chairman, Lincoln County Election Board and employed at the Huss Livestock Sale Barn in Curtis. Sometimes Ed thought she was maybe 'too' active a partner, for instance when she started tearing down the wall in the house. She was remodeling, but Ed thought she was just plain tearing the house down. Imagine the turmoil of the household, Audrey swinging the crowbar, plaster flying, Ed throwing his hands in the air hollering, "she's tearing the house down", and the kids standing there staring and crying. Guess they should have just pitched in and got the job done sooner, as we all know when she set her mind to something, it got done. Ed would come home and say we need to go to Omaha, so she would pack up and away they would go. She would always tell the kids, "you can do anything you want to, just do it". If any of them came running to her with the famous words, "I'm bored", her response would be, "guess, you just don't have enough to do, and she would send them out to the 'ash pile' to pick up nails, "5 cents a coffee can full, they were making money then" That would take care of the 'bored' quickly.

Ed and Audrey enjoyed many years on the farm north of Moorefield, hosting many card parties and other neighborly get-togethers at the White House. It was a 'famous' "party house of the card variety" in the community. Ed & Audrey celebrated their 40th Anniversary at the Moorefield Community Hall with an Open House and Dance. This was one of their highlights and the last time they got to dance together, one of their joys. I guess you could say it was their last Big Bash before Ed passed away at home on June 19, 1992. Audrey continued to live on the farm until 1995, when she purchased a home in Farnam where she lived with her daughter Kay for 8 years. While living in Farnam, Audrey served on the Library Board, Recycling Committee, Community Improvement Committee and was a member of the Senior Center Board. A highlight of these years was the Open House for her 70th Birthday hosted by her children held at the Farnam Senior Center. Audrey moved to the Senior Living Choices Center in Curtis in May of 2004 due to the progression of her Parkinson's disease.

Audrey enjoyed life and traveling. A highlight was her 14 day trip to the east coast for 4-H parents. She had sent some of the girls on this 4-H trip, so enjoyed getting to see Washington D.C., New York City, and more. When the girls were old enough to drive, they would go on 3 day outings or 'Girls Days Out', seeing the sights of surrounding states and throughout Nebraska. The girls fondly remember the first such outing. We picked up so many rocks in Colorado that the car would 'bottom out' every time we hit a bump. We laughed all the way home as you know we don't have rocks in Nebraska.

Hobbies that Audrey enjoyed were playing cards, crafts, playing scrabble and other board games, collecting antiques and historic memorabilia. She spent many enjoyable hours completing her family history books and family stories.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Forrest & Blanche Grunden, brother Harold Grunden, husband Ed Krone, granddaughter Elizabeth Stevens and son in law, Kim Stevens.

Survivors include: Daughter Kay of Curtis, son, Ed & Deb of Gothenburg, daughters, Cheryn & Gerald of Maysville Oklahoma, Donna Stevens of Kearney, Mary & Nick Klintworth of Moorefield. Grandchildren: Lori & Chad Kolbo of Gothenburg, Susan & Brock Massin of Lincoln, Travis & Jessica Beck of Portales New Mexico, Dayna & Nathan Sukraw of Wichita, Kansas, Chaunci & Erica Beck of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, McKenzie Stevens of Omaha, Nathan Stevens of Lincoln and John & Ryan Klintworth of Moorefield and 9 great-grandchildren.

We remember her vitality in life, her thirst for education and her love of music as we enjoy her favorite composition of the Big Band Era, 'The Entertainer' you can almost see her setting at the piano 'belting out the music she so loved. Rest in Peace Mom and Grandma, you're finally free of the worn and disease ridden body and flying free. We Love You.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Thursday, February 07, 2013 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm, with the family present from 2-4.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 402 Center, Curtis, NE, February 8, 2013 at 10:00 am with Rev. Bonnie Forney, Pastor Brian Nicklas officiating.

Interment will follow in the Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018 or Donor's Choice.

Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel