Audrey Jeane Hawkins

Sibley, IA      Click here to watch livestream of Mass

  Audrey Hawkins, age 88 of Sibley, Iowa died Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley. 

  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday September 17th, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Sibley, Iowa, with Father Tim Hogan as Celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Andrew’s Cemetery at Sibley, IA.

  Visitation will be Monday, September 16th, from 4 to 8 p.m., with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. There will be a Vigil Service at 7:30 p.m. Monday evening at the Jurrens Funeral Home.

 Audrey Jeane Hawkins was born November 16, 1935, in Sibley, Iowa, the daughter of LeRoy and Jennie (Heeren) Harjehausen. She was raised on a family farm east of Sibley and attended country school through the 8th grade. She graduated from Sibley High School in 1953.

  Audrey was united in marriage to Manley Joseph Hawkins, Jr. on July 23, 1953, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Sibley, IA. While Manley served in the U.S. Navy, they lived in Port Hueneme, CA from 1956 through 1957 and in 1957 Audrey returned home to her parent’s farm east of Sibley while Manley served over seas. She started working at Campbell’s Soup in Worthington, MN for a few years before she worked the next 30 years at the Sibley Creamery, when it closed. She then worked her final 11 years at Chase Bag until retirement. Audrey and Manley enjoyed attending their children’s and grandchildren’s activities and were very proud of all of their accomplishments. Their daughter, Kelli and later grandchildren, competed for many years at horse shows and barrel racing. Audrey enjoyed attending and would record all the competitor’s times.

  After her retirement, Audrey and Manley were fortunate to take two trips to Europe and visited ten different countries. Together they shared many fond memories while on these trips. She was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church and has many pictures and figurines throughout her house of Jesus with his lambs. She also raised sheep during her childhood and adult life. Audrey’s most important time of year was Christmas, where she went to great lengths to make the season special for everyone in her family. She was a very giving person and even signed some of the tags “from Santa”. Later in life she had a cat named Fedora which she adored. 

  On April 29, 2006, Audrey’s husband, Manley died after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Following Manley’s death, Audrey remained living on their acreage west of Sibley with her children helping her. In 2010, she traveled with her daughter, Kelli, to Rome, Italy, where she was able to climb the steps to reach the top of the St. Peter’s Basilica dome. In 2015, Audrey and Kelli visited the Holy Land and Jordan. She also enjoyed day trips to Flandreau Casino and Grand Falls Casino with her son Mark. Audrey and Kelli could also be found at the craft shows and were looking forward to those this fall. 

  Audrey was admitted into Osceola Regional Health Center this past Friday, September 13, 2024, where she passed away later that day, at the age of 88.

 She is survived by her son, Mark (special friend, Donna Sampson) Hawkins of Sibley, IA; daughter, Kelli (Randy) VanDeBerg of Sibley, IA; five grandchildren, Sara (Nate) Grueb of Dupree, SD, Dustin (Kari) Hawkins of Templeton, CA and Amanda (Matt) McPherson of Pierre, SD, Mandie Sprock of Rock Rapids, IA and Nick (Tiffany) VanDeBerg of Sioux Falls, SD; seven great-grandchildren, Reagan, Radley and Royce Grueb, Brooklyn, Brynlee McPherson and Kaden and Carter Sprock; a sister-in-law, Gloria Harjehausen of Eagle River, AK; Manley’s sister and husband Patricia (Roger) May of Savage, MN and several other extended family. 

  She was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Jennie Harjehausen; her husband of fifty-two years, Manley Hawkins; a brother, Ivan Harjehausen; and parents-in-law, Manley, Sr. and Hazel Hawkins. She was also preceded in death by Manley’s sister and brother-in-law Shirley (Dee) Dickinson and also sister and brother-in-law Betty (John) Zimmerman.