Patricia E. Tonning

Patricia E Tonning of Fort Atkinson, WI passed on Monday, November 30th, 2020 after a long battle with Dementia. She was born on February 15th, 1941 in Chicago, IL.

She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Jeanette Pajor and Phyllis Martin, and her brother Gary Pajor.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Gene Tonning; daughter, Debbie Luke of Burlington, WI, and sons Jim Tonning and wife Kathy of Hainesville, IL and Jim Martin of Aurora, IL. Grandchildren Christine Luke, Daryl Luke and wife Kaytee, Melissa Luke and Emma Martin; Great grandchildren, Espy Luke, Lupe Luke, and Irene Luke. Brother Ken Pajor and wife Carol of West Chicago, IL.

After a career in plastic sales Pat turned to retirement and lake living. There she enjoyed, fishing (where she caught the biggest fish and Gene caught the most), boat rides around the lake, and enjoying every sunset! When not on the water she enjoyed working on her stained glass projects, planning the next home improvement, and road trips where they always searched for the perfect lake or fall colors.

Pat was a people person at heart. Often she would chat-up a stranger at the store or restaurant and learn their life story by the end of the conversation. It wasn't uncommon for her to invite anyone who didn't have a place to go for the holidays over for dinner. Including one year where she invited half the nursing home over for Christmas. Pat's biggest passion was her family. If you spent 5 minutes talking with her you would get that sense right away. Her family was her greatest accomplishment and it showed in her dedication to them.

She touched the lives of many in her seventy-nine years on this earth and left it a much better place than it was before.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to her caregivers at Sunset Ridge in Jefferson , WI and St. Croix Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association through Pat's memorial fund, http://alz.org, P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090 (1-800-272-3900).

Tomorrow, we lay my Grandma to rest, one of the most beautiful and pure souls I have ever known. Words cannot express the pain just seeing those words brings.

To know my Grandma was to know love in its purest form. My best memories involve my Grandma. As a child, she made holidays and birthdays magical. To this day, I am still transported back to the feeling of absolute joy opening up my first TV, Cabbage Patch Kids Record Player or massive Crayon set with the sharpener. As I grew up, I came to realize that not only did she make holidays magical, but she made life pretty magical as well. I absolutely loved spending time with my Grandma, be it belting out songs during a musical at the Fireside, sitting next to her and her perfectly done hair on a boat ride, crying our eyes out watching Extreme Home Makeover, or burning through hours of calling card minutes while I was in Korea or anywhere else overseas. To this day, I can’t look at a deck of cards without thinking of “shovels” instead of spades, I smile every birthday thinking of Grandma’s perfectly off tune rendition of Happy Birthday left on my voicemail, cannot look at anyone who is homeless or struggling and not want to help them, remind myself to “keep my eyes open” anytime we are taking a group picture, and chuckle to myself whenever I see an old station wagon with the fake wood (it’s not like the birch tree in her backyard. You’re not supposed to peel it off….Oopsies!). I miss the hugs, the back scratches, the laughs, the advice, the listening ear, the center of our family, and the one person that I always knew would be there for me regardless.

While dementia did not define my Grandma, it was a battle that she fought fiercely during the last chapter of her life. In lieu of flowers, we are asking that you consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. My Grandma was the most selfless person, who always wanted to help others. Although she did not win her battle against dementia, I know in my heart that she would be proud to know we are continuing to help support those who are still fighting that fight.

As a kid, Grandma would look across the lake on a rainy day, and joke that she could almost see the other side. Well Grandma, you have now made it to that side. While we might not be able to see across that “lake,” I know in my heart that you now have the clearest view and are looking across at us with love and pride. Until the day I cross that lake, I will hold you and your memories dear in my heart. From this day, until the end of my days, I love you!

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