ForeverMissed
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Her Life

Pat's story

February 28, 2014

     Patricia Marie Gill Koenecke (Pat) was born in Appleton Minnesota on February 4th, 1927.  Her Father, Theodore Gill immigrated from Norway at the age of 15.  He became a Pharmacist and ran the Appleton Pharmacy.  Pat would bring him his lunch in a specially designed bucket and had fond memories of helping him at work. They would stay open on Saturdays because all the farmers did their shopping then. Pat's mother was Leah Marshall Gill.  She played the organ at church and also at the movie theater before "talkies" came along. Consequently Pat was an accomplished pianist and would travel to Minneapolis on the bus for advanced lessons.  
    Pat graduated from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis with a Bachelors degree in Dental Hygiene.  While at school her brother Ted introduced her to her future husband, Fred (Fritz) Koenecke.  They were married after graduating and shortly thereafter were off to Germany on a Navy assignment.  Her first child Eric was born there in Frankfurt.  After Germany Pat and Fritz returned to the Midwest following an assignment  in New York city.  They settled in Lakefield Minnesota where Jay and Elise were born.  
     In 1960 the family packed up and moved to Madison Wisconsin so Fritz could train in Psychiatry.  Pat lived in the same house on Capital Avenue until 2005. While in her 50's Pat returned to school for a nursing degree.  She worked happily in that field for many years.  
     In 2006 Pat moved to California to live with her son Jay, and two grandchildren, Tyler and Allison.  She loved nature and was able to walk around the lake year round.  She enjoyed attending the weddings and other holiday festivities of her extended family in California.  
     After struggling with Alzheimers for ten years she passed away on February 20th, 2014 in her loving environment at Lavender Hills.  She was only under Hospice care for three days.  Her long term memory was still largely intact as was her wit and sense of humor.  
     Her life was well lived.  She walked the walk and touched the lives of many.  May she be remembered often and fondly.