Audrey May Huwe Kuenzel

Audrey May Huwe Kuenzel was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 30, 1928, the second child of Otto and Mae Huwe. She was baptized at Bethel Lutheran Church in St. Paul on July 15, 1928, and confirmed on May 3, 1942, also at Bethel. She graduated from Murray High School in St. Paul in 1946, and attended Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. On June 4, 1949 she married Bernard Kuenzel at Bethel Lutheran Church. Six children were born to their marriage: Gary, Nancy, Bruce, Karla, Julie, and Kurt. She died in the promise of the resurrection on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Audrey and Bernie lived many wonderful places that they called home, some of which included Great Falls, MT, where they raised their six children and Capistrano Beach, CA where they were house parents for six developmentally disabled adults before retiring full-time. Audrey held many different jobs through the years, but her most significant job was "teacher and mentor" to those she loved and held close, whether they were family, friends or just acquaintances. Even with eight full seats around the table, she always had room for one more. Audrey's love for the Lord was evident to everyone who crossed her path. She loved to read and her favorite book was the Bible, which she read every day. Her unwavering faith was most often seen through her gracious, loving demeanor and her sweet sensitive spirit. She was a prayer warrior and prayed faithfully through the years for her husband, her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and their spouses, and her great-grandchildren, and she "walked the talk" by loving them all unconditionally. Going to church was a priority for her and she made it a priority for her children to be there as well. She was a gifted musician and she loved to sing and play the piano and organ, and she shared her talents with her family and with any church she and Bernie attended. She was a talented seamstress and her children and grandchildren enjoyed the fruits of her labor. She loved to laugh and have fun and her dry sense of humor, even in her last days, brought joy and laughter to all of us. She was a hard worker and always worked at perfecting her skills or abilities by taking classes or by receiving private instruction, all while caring for her family and working a full-time job. Audrey leaves behind a family who loves her deeply and is forever grateful for the rich legacy she has left them. Until we meet again in heaven, we will miss you our beloved Wife, Mom and Granny. "He who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:13 She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Betty Ettel. She is survived by her husband, Bernard, of Albuquerque, NM; her children, Gary (and Wendy) Kuenzel of St. Catharines, Ontario,CA; Nancy (and Michael) O'Dell of Albuquerque, NM; Bruce (and Cynthia) Kuenzel of Los Alamos, NM; Karla (and Rick) Shelby of Vista, CA; Julie (and Randy) McCamley of Great Falls, MT; and Kurt (and Connie) Kuenzel of Jerome, ID; thirteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers and one sister and their spouses; one brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law. A Memorial Service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 300 Gold Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM, at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 16, 2014. Memorials may be directed to the Garden Club at Manzano del Sol Village, 5201 Roma Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87108.