Patricia J. Sullivan

Patricia J. Sullivan, age 93, of Aurora, CO, passed away on March 26, 2021 at The Bay at Nu-Roc, Laona, Wisconsin. She was born Patricia Jean Powers on July 28, 1927 in Rhinelander, WI, the daughter of the late Daniel and Ethel (Sheldon) Powers of Popple River, WI. She attended the Popple River North school and graduated from Stambaugh High School, Class of 1945. Patricia married Francis G. Sullivan of Popple River, WI on June 25, 1949 at St. Leonard Catholic Church in Laona, WI. The couple celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary before Francis preceded her in death on June 25, 2001. Together, they raised four children as they traveled the world as an Air Force family. Married life started with an assignment to Mount Clemens, Michigan where they welcomed their first two children, Daniel, and Patrick. From there they were assigned to Clovis, New Mexico where they welcomed another son, Kelly. Another military assignment sent them to Verdun, France where they welcomed their daughter, Mary. With the family now complete, their next adventures took them to Mattydale, New York; Washington, D.C.; Clark AFB in the Philippines; and finally, to their retirement location, Aurora, Colorado. Along the way they made many friends and thoroughly enjoyed their military lifestyle, while never forgetting their Northern Wisconsin roots; spending vacation time with family and friends in the Popple River/Long Lake area between all of their assignments. As a military wife, Patricia balanced family life with helping others. She was a member of the Catholic Wives Association, the NCO Wives Club, and was an active member in the USO as a tour guide in Washington, D.C. and then hospital volunteer in the Philippines. As her children grew, she started to work outside of the home and enjoyed working as a teen club director and increased her involvement in the USO. She took a fulltime position when she agreed to manage the Lowry Air Force Base Ticket & Tour Office in Denver, Colorado. She loved her job, but most of all she loved all the people she met along the way. Born with the gift-of-gab and a sincere friendly and “never met a stranger” attitude, Pat thrived when surrounded by family and friends. She loved to dance (you were not safe if there was a Polka playing), listen to country music, and was an excellent baker and cook. She also loved to watch baseball and football, staying loyal to her teams – the Colorado Rockies & Milwaukee Brewers, and the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers. She enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, and telling jokes; laughing the hardest at her own jokes and snickering at her sometime ‘naughty’ jokes. But above all, she loved her family. Her children, grand-children, great grand-children, nieces/nephews, and her “adopted” and extended family members, and countless friends from around the world were the center of her universe. She will always be remembered for her smile, her love of animals, and her genuine infectious enthusiasm for life. Family legend has it that the song “You Are My Sunshine” was written just for her. Hers was truly a life well lived. Patricia is survived by her sons, Daniel (Carla Craig) Sullivan of Chattanooga, TN, Patrick (Melba Douglas) Sullivan of Golden, Colo., and Kelly (Roxanne Thiede) Sullivan of Marshfield, WI; daughter, Mary “Sissie” Sullivan of Long Lake, WI; “adopted daughters”, Sue Schallenberg and Mary Rench; six grandchildren, Kimberly Sullivan, Courtney Hall, Toni Sullivan-Bruno, Logan Sullivan, John Sullivan, and April Van Valin; nine great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. She was also preceded in death by her parents, husband, her sister, Beverly Sullivan; brothers-in-law, Charles N. Sullivan and Howard (Alice) Sullivan; sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Sullivan and Margaret (Duane) Bey. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron River, Michigan Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. Norbert Catholic Church in Long Lake, WI with Fr. Anil Polumari to offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment at the Long Lake Cemetery will follow the services. The family wishes to acknowledge the caring support and services provided by the Beth Israel/Shalom Park community in Aurora, CO; The Bay at Nu-Roc in Laona, WI; and the local Ascension hospice care angels. Family can be contacted at P.O. Box 124, Long Lake, WI 54542. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Patricia J. Sullivan, please visit our flower store.