Audrey A. (Mattson) Bryan of Eau Claire passed away on Sunday November 18, 2001 at Luther Hospital. Audrey was born on Sunday September 15, 1948 to Conrad and Arline Mattson, at Le Sueur, Minnesota. She spent most of her growing up years in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota where her parents taught school. She graduated from St. Olaf College in 1970 with a degree in Nursing. She worked for a short time at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis and later as a school nurse in St. Paul. In the spring of 1972 Audrey married Thomas W. Bryan. Following their marriage they spent one year in Spokane Washington where Audrey taught nursing at a technical college. Upon their return to the Twin Cities she enrolled in the Graduate Nursing Program at the University of Minnesota from which she received her Masters Degree in Public Health and her credential as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP).\r\nEarly in 1977 the Bryan's moved to Earl, Wisconsin where Audrey gave birth to her daughter Erica and worked at the Washburn County Public Health Agency. Later she moved to the Spooner Clinic where she practiced as a PNP. In 1985 the family moved to the nearby town of Spooner where in 1986 daughter Nicole was welcomed to the family. The following year Audrey took a position as Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In the fall of 1991 she returned to the University Minnesota to pursue her doctorate in Nursing. Upon completion of her Ph.D. in 1995 she returned to UW-EC and was promoted to Associate Professor where she served until her death.\r\nAudrey was passionate about her faith and about life and over the years her passion touched many people. She cared deeply and was unabashedly curious about this thing that we call life and this world that we call our home. Her interests were many but her aim was always the same, to promote understanding which would allow people to live more graciously with each other. Audrey loved God, her family and her friends. She enjoyed traveling, liked to dance, appreciated art and music, and truly loved teaching. Audrey has been described by her friends as a genuine and positive spirit. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and was a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing.\r\nAudrey is survived by her husband, Rev. Thomas Bryan and two daughters, Erica and Nicole of Eau Claire. Her parents, Conrad and Arline Mattson; two sisters, Carol (Mike) Francis, Becky (Ron) Kanengieter; three brothers, Daniel Mattson, Randy (Kathy) Mattson and Ross (Kate) Mattson. She is also survived by her two Godchildren, Joel and Mariana Francis along with many other nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and colleagues.\r\nWe learned a great deal from Audrey, and we are grateful for her companionship on our journey through life. May God grant us the gift of remembering what we learned and the ability to pass it on. \r\nFuneral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at St. John's Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark A. Olson officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. John's Lutheran Church in the church assembly room and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home is serving the family. \r\nIn lieu of flowers, her family requests memorials be directed to the scholarship fund established in memory of Audrey for the School of Nursing at UW-Eau Claire or St. John's Lutheran Church.

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