Audra Louise Weitzel

A celebration of life for AUDRA LOUISE WEITZEL, 90, will be held 10am Friday June 19, 2026, at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Torrington with Deacon Bobbe Fitzhugh officiating. A reception will follow at the church. Audra peacefully joined the resurrection on Easter Sunday April 5, 2026, with her loving family by her side at Banner Medical Center of Wyoming in Casper. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the Eastern Star Benevolent Fund in care of Wendy Lewandowski. The Colyer Funeral Home assisted the family with the cremation arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left at www.colyerfuneralhome.com Audra Louise Jones was born on May 24, 1935, in Wheatland, Wyoming, to Oliver L. and Vera Springer Jones, members of an original Oregon Trail settler family. She was the youngest of three children. Audra attended Mitchell City Schools through the eighth grade, then continued her education at Brownell Hall in Omaha, Nebraska, where she graduated with honors with the Class of 1953. She later attended the University of Nebraska and remained a proud lifetime alumna. She married Elwood Weitzel, and they later divorced. From this union, two children were born: Wendy Louise and Eric Clinton. Audra attended Nebraska Western College, where she pursued a degree in business. She served as the first ward clerk at West Nebraska General Hospital and helped move the hospital from downtown Scottsbluff to its present location. She later worked as a secretary for William Orr at Hiram Scott College and was then employed at the Panhandle Mental Health Center for more than 20 years until her retirement. While at the Mental Health Center, she received the White Windmill Award for her "outstanding service." In 1993, Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson appointed her to the State Commission of Judicial Qualifications. In 1979, she went on a blind date with Irving Shapiro, and they were inseparable from that day forward. They shared 18 wonderful years together and traveled extensively. Each fall, trips to Lincoln, Nebraska, for Husker football games were a favorite tradition. Their final trip together was to Poland with Irving's family, where he was born. Audra and Irving were known for their football parties and political fundraisers. After Irving's death, she moved to Torrington, where she lived for several years, before locating to Laramie for 11 years. While in Laramie, she worked at the University of Wyoming Foundation and helped take orders for her grandson Trent with his Double Dubs chicken wing business. In 2017, she returned to Torrington and lived with Wendy and Jay until her passing Audra never met a stranger. During her travels with Wendy for Eastern Star, she made many dear friends. She never missed raising a toast with her glass of Johnny Walker. Audra was full of life and energy until her passing. Audra LOVED the Nebraska Cornhuskers although the Wyoming Cowboys were a close second. She would win any trivia question about the Huskers hands down. Audra was a 71-year-old member and past president of PEO Chapter EU in Mitchell, and Chapter M in Torrington. She was also a 71-year member of Sunflower Chapter #214 of the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as Torrington Chapter #22 and Wheatland Chapter #11. She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Lewandowski (fiancé Jay Neibauer) of Torrington; her son, Eric Weitzel (Carree) of Laramie, Wyoming; and daughter-in-law Leslie Shapiro of Denver, Colorado. She is also survived by her grandsons, Trent Weitzel (Kayla Gregory); Jon Brock Weitzel (Samantha), both of Laramie, and Ryan Lewandowski (Emily Corman) of Morehead City, North Carolina; her granddaughters, Lauren Mischke (Michael) of Kimberly, Idaho, and Morgan Lewandowski (Adam Buck) of Hill City, South Dakota; Jill Abrahamson (Jim Rogers) of Carter Lake, lowa, Niki Abrahamson of San Jose, California, Clara OBryant (Patrick) of Englewood, Colorado, and Emma Shapiro of Denver; and eleven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her partner, Irving Shapiro; Hershel Shapiro, sister, Betty Jeane Snell; brother, Springer Jones. And Sister-in-law Donna Jones.

Audra Louise Weitzel

May 24, 1935 - April 5, 2026