Patricia Verhagen Myers

Patricia Jane (Verhagen) Myers, 81, of Kaukauna, WI, passed away on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at St. Paul Elder Services after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Pat was born on January 30, 1940, in Kaukauna, WI, oldest of eight, daughter of the late Larry and Gladys Verhagen.

Pat’s first job, while still in middle school, was to help her father with the books at his Dodge Street grocery store, starting in 1953. She loved being at the store and told many stories about her time there. Pat was determined to be the first in her family to go to college, and she paid her own way earning an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene and setting an example for her younger siblings.

Following college, Pat worked as a dental hygienist in the Fox Valley. She met her beloved husband Jon while he attended graduate school in Appleton, WI, and they married in June of 1965. Together, they moved to Pennsylvania for Jon’s career and spent the next 15 years there. They had 5 children, 4 daughters and 1 son. While in PA they took many road trips to visit family and friends. Pat also worked for The National Right to Life Organization providing childcare facilities for young mothers.

After crisscrossing the country a few times between PA and WI, Pat and Jon retired to their home on Lake Winnebago in 1998. Fond memories with their children and 13 grandchildren ensued, including grandma in her flower garden and making hot chocolate with way too many marshmallows.

Pat was an avid Packer fan, played the piano and liked to dance. She was an amazing seamstress making many first communion and prom dresses. She walked as far and as often as she could with her dog Lexi. She enjoyed painting, reading, cooking and skiing. She was a fabulous baker and even managed to perfect the Mrs. Field’s chocolate chip cookie recipe. Pat was an extraordinary mother who devoted herself to her children and grandchildren. Her Catholic faith was very important to her and as her kids grew older, she spent her time volunteering at Meals on Wheels America and other charities.

Pat is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, Jon Myers (Appleton, WI), her children Karen (Myers) and Jeff Hoersch (Elgin, IL), Kathryn (Myers) and Paul Meyer (Appleton, WI), Steven and Debra Myers (Appleton, WI), Suzanne (Myers) and Jamie Mitchell (The Woodlands, TX), and Andrea Myers (Chicago, IL). Her grandchildren Samuel, Zachary and Anna Myers; Ben, Elizabeth, Lukas and Jacob Meyer; Nathan, Elise and Margot Hoersch; Jack, Lilly and Charlie Mitchell. Also, her siblings Jean (Verhagen) Maeder (San Antonio, TX), Thomas and Judy Verhagen (Kaukauna, WI), Kathleen (Verhagen) and Gordon Westphal (Oconomowoc, WI), Timothy and Karen Verhagen (Charlotte, NC), Joseph Verhagen (Menasha, WI), David and Sher Verhagen (DePere, WI), Mary (Verhagen) and Paul Knapp (Kaukauna, WI), as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Pat will be held at Saint Katharine Drexel – Saint Mary’s church, 119 W. 7th Street, Kaukauna, WI. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM – 12:00 on Friday, April 23, 2021 with a Funeral Mass beginning at noon. A celebration of life will be held at Pullmans at Trolley Square, 619 S. Olde Oneida Street, Appleton, WI, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the National Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).   For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

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