Patricia Genelle Nelsen (nee Pratschner), age 88 of River Falls, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2022 at Comforts of Home in River Falls, WI.

Pat was born on July 8, 1933 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and graduated from Roosevelt High School and the University of Minnesota where she met her husband-to-be Gorman (Gorm) Nelsen. They were married December 27, 1955 when Gorm was on leave from the Air Force and Pat became an Air Force Lieutenant’s wife.

Pat is someone who is difficult to capture in a few words. She was a wonderful person who some would describe as angelic. Pat truly lived her life to the fullest. She enjoyed weekends at the family cabin and their many friends there as well. She also enjoyed reading, knitting, golfing, bowling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling.

Pat was an extremely sweet person, who cared for everyone, and always wore a smile. She was a supportive and involved mother as well. She often chaperoned school field trips, tutored students, was a cub scout den mother, a bluebird and campfire girl leader and, when her daughter Anita wanted to volunteer at Como Zoo in St. Paul but was a couple of months too young, Pat volunteered with her too. For many years, they guided tours, brought animals to special events and even briefly fostered a Siberian tiger cub at their home.

Pat is survived by her loving children: Scott (Shirley) Nelsen and Anita Barry, grandchildren Ryan (Alicia) Barry and Derek Barry, great grandchildren Avery and Declan Barry, and step grandchildren Sarah and Jessica Miller. She was preceded in death by her husband Gorman, and parents Anthony and Mabel Pratschner.

Services entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services of River Falls, www.oconnellfuneralservices.com, 715-425-5644