Patricia “Pat” Moericke, of Shawano, passed peacefully and surrounded with love on July 23, 2024.
Pat was a fighter until the end, her tenacity and independence never missing a beat. She told stories, brought up old flames, joked and even had a bit of energy to dance in her bed and sing “I’m happy, happy, happy.” She made us all feel so special in those final days and will be something that none of us will ever forget.
Pat was born in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1946 to parents Robert and Mercedes (Bergeson) Olinger. In 1958, along with her mother and sister, Sharon, she moved to Milwaukee, where she graduated from Rufus King High School in 1964. While in Milwaukee, she also found her singing voice where she practiced by singing Patsy Cline into a hairbrush and eventually sang for a band for a short time.
She also fell in love and married James Moericke in January 1965 and gave birth to her sons, Dan in 1967 and David in 1968. The family of four moved to Slab City near Bonduel in 1974 where the family grew to five with the birth of her daughter, Hollie, in 1976. In 1981, James and Pat parted ways, and she and the kids lived in Bonduel until the boys went into the service, and she and Hollie moved to Shawano in 1987.
Pat tried several different professions, babysitter, seamstress at Zwickers Knitting Mills in Shawano, ad clerk at Shawano Leader, and finally settled as a loan officer at several different banks, ending with Associated Bank where she retired in 2015. Pat also had a love for line dancing and writing, even receiving a reward for a poem that she wrote and had published. She was the proudest grandmother to 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Pat is survived by her older sister, Sharon (Bill) Pfannerstil, of Milwaukee; children, Dan (Erin) Moericke, of Sheboygan, David (Cheryl) Moericke, of Shawano, and Hollie Moericke (Matt Richter), of Green Bay; grandchildren, Lacey (Jeremy) Cobb, Morgan Moericke, Hunter Moericke, Ciara Moericke, Olivia Moericke, Benjamin Moericke, Jorji Moericke, Eilliott Moericke, Avyn Moericke and Rhett Richter; and great-grandchildren, Charlie and Maxwell Cobb.
Pat was preceded in death by her father, Robert Olinger; mother, Mercedes (Lester) Moericke; and her late husband, James Moericke.
The family would like to thank all of the staff at Shawano Health Services who loved and tried to care for her even though most of the time she told them “I can do it.” They appreciated her for that but were so happy to help her in her final hours when they could “finally do something for her.”
A special thanks to Nola at Thedacare Hospice who took care of Mom like one of her own, and the night before she passed she said to her, “I will see you tomorrow, and in case you aren’t here tomorrow, I will see you again and we can have lunch.” She was there for Mom’s final breath, and we think that this is just the way Mom wanted it, independent and no fussing until the end.
We would also like to thank Vicar David from St. James Lutheran Church for the kind words to Mom and the kind and humorous words, which we needed, to our family.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Aug. 24, at daughter Hollie’s home on 1234 Melody Drive in Green Bay from noon to 3 p.m. All are welcome. Condolences can be sent to 1234 Melody Drive, Green Bay, WI 54303, or www.simplycremationgb.com.
Patricia ‘Pat’ Moericke
