Audrey Reichert Lyke, who with her husband, Doug, owned the Ripon Commonwealth Press from 1962 to 2017, died Wednesday, Aug. 23 in Ripon. She was 87.
The Lykes moved to Ripon in 1962 to own and operate The Ripon Commonwealth Press, but soon found themselves in the commercial printing business. Audrey handled the company’s bookkeeping, finances and other operations while Doug bid on jobs and ran the company, which grew from a workforce of 12 and $250,000 in sales to more than 300 with $40 million sales during their more than 30 years of leadership.
When not raising the children and helping Doug with the business, Audrey was active in church, many community events and organizations. She also was a founding member of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, and also on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 at the First Congregational Church of Ripon, 220 Ransom St., from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Joanna D’Agostino officiating.
