Patricia A. Kammel

Patricia A. Kammel, 88, of rural Coon Valley was called to her heavenly home on Saturday, June 29, 2024, with members of her loving family at her side. She was born on September 13, 1935, in La Crosse, to William and Ethel (Silha) Vogel. She attended Saint Wenceslaus Elementary School and graduated from Aquinas High School. She married Donald “Donny” Kammel of Coon Valley at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church on July 15, 1955. They farmed side by side in Timber Coulee before moving to North Ridge where she and Donny built their home from oak trees harvested from the land they had just purchased. She managed the farm’s finances and made ends meet by waitressing at the Ridgeview Inn for many years.

Patricia “Pat” was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she served on several committees and was trusted to count the weekly offerings. She also served at the Greenfield Township polling site for many years. After she and Donny turned their farm into one of the largest Black Walnut tree farms in Wisconsin, she began making Scrushers for Chaseburg Manufacturing when it was still in its infancy.

Pat and Donny loved traveling to Hayward to see friends, fish for their dinner and tempt fate at the casino. They upped their game by frequenting Las Vegas, where mom and dad tried to calculate how many cubic yards of concrete it took to build the city and questioned, “Where in the world do they get all their water from?!” Pat made her final trip to Vegas in January where she viewed the “Sphere” while sitting on the top floor of the Stratosphere.

Almost everything Pat did regularly included groups of friends. She enjoyed the Strong Seniors Exercise Group at the Greenfield Town Hall (she was proud every time she would increase the amount of weight she could lift). Over the past few years her greatest joy was enjoying countless meals and Euchre games with her best friends.

Pat’s final wish was to make it to her grandson’s wedding so she could spend time with family. She achieved her final goal. 

Survivors include four children; David (Sharon Theige) of Madison, Tom (Kay Grassman) of Arbor Vitae, Bob (Nancy Potaracke) of La Crescent, Minnesota, and Mary (Bill) Simon of La Crosse, 13 grandchildren; Carey (Michelle Grosso) Kammel, Matt (Hallie Zillman) Kammel, Leah (Jonathan) Lenoch, Kaitlyn Ferry, Wade (Kim Carter) Kammel, Will (Holly Durkee) Kammel, Caleb (Vivian Weiss) Kammel, Christian Kammel, Raeshana Kammel, Michael (Kelsey Temanson) Levenick, Nikki (Rodrigo) Olivo, Dustin Henslin, Lindsey (Lucas) Purnell, 14 great-grandchildren; Tormon, Rebel, Ellis, Olivia, Jack, Lincoln, Maesie, Simon, Gabriel, Hugo, Lucy, Rocco, Renee and Ruby, one sister-in-law; Marcie (Syl Jr.) Leibl of Coon Valley, and many loving relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Donny, her parents and one brother; Norman.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Leo and Leon’s, in Newberg Corners, on Sunday, September 15 from 1-4 PM. A private Memorial Mass and Christian Burial will be held at a later date.

Pat’s children wish to express their heartfelt thanks to Physician’s Assistant Jackie Drea for being there for their mom all these years. She trusted you and always enjoyed seeing you. Thank you also to Dr. Oettel and his team for guiding our mom (and us) through her cancer journey. Because of you, mom’s attitude remained, “Cancer may wreck my physical body, but it will never crush my spirit.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Coon Valley American Legion and any additional cash donations will be given to organizations special to mom. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family.