Audrae Hope Klassy, age 88 of New Glarus, passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at the New Glarus Home. She was born on December 7, 1926, to her parents, Elvin and Selma (Jorenby) Swiggum in Monroe, WI.

Hope graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1944. On November 22, 1944, she was united in marriage to Herbert Klassy at the Old York Lutheran Church. Hope was a mother and farm wife, and had worked at the New Glarus Home. In 1986, the couple sold their farm in the Town of York and moved to New Glarus. She was a member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in New Glarus and taught Sunday school for many years.

Hope is survived by her children, Carol (Art) Thompson of New Glarus, WI, Ralph (Vicki) Klassy of Phillips, WI, Dale (Lynn) Klassy of Palatine, IL, Neal (Linda) Klassy of Blanchardville, WI, Rodney (Carolyn) Klassy of Austin, TX, Fern (Gary) Langfoss of Hollandale, WI, Jim (Chris) Klassy of Monticello, WI, and Kelvin (Ann) Klassy of New Glarus, WI; twenty-three grandchildren; and forty great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Gwen (Lowell) Smythe of Raleigh, NC; sisters-in-law, Freida Rotar and Bernice Hamilton, both of Verona, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Ben Watrud; husband, Herb; brothers, Eric Swiggum and Erling Swiggum; and a sister, Ruth Winden.

Funeral services were be held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, April 27, 2015, at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 506 Twelfth Avenue, New Glarus, WI, with the Rev. Gene Talley officiating with burial in the Old York Cemetery, rural Blanchardville.

Relatives and friends called from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home, 29 Sixth Avenue, New Glarus, WI.

A memorial fund has been established.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.