Patricia M. Jesse

Patricia M. Jesse

6/26/1940 – 8/9/2022

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Jesse Jr.; sister, Lenette Elwing

She is survived by her children: John Jesse III (Nicole), Rene Dytrych (Pat), David Jesse (Cindy), Ellen Konecky (Jim); 13 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; brother, Dick Glinski (Debby); nieces and nephews

Family will receive friends Sunday, August 14, 2022, from 5-7PM at West Center Chapel with Vigil Service at 7PM.

Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, August 15, 2022, 10:30AM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. 14330 Eagle Run Drive. Interment: Resurrection Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church or the Siena Francis House.

To view a live broadcast of the Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click on the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.

Patricia (Pat) Glinski Jesse was born on June 26, 1940, in Duluth MN to Jeanette and Leonard Glinski.  She grew up in Rhinelander WI, where they enjoyed the piney north woods and the Green Bay Packers while avoiding the fearsome Hodag (Google it).  She welcomed sister Lenette and brother Dick and mentored them as the wise big sister.  She graduated from Rhinelander Union High School, home of the (wait for it) Hodags, some of which had been domesticated by that time.

After graduation, she moved to Milwaukee and met John Jesse Jr. (aka Sarge) who was attending Marquette University.  She moved to the “flatlands” and began working at Crandall’s Furs while continuing to date Sarge.  He proposed in Memorial Park under an oak tree, and they were married on September 23, 1961, in Rhinelander.

They realized that they would need to be resilient when faced with life’s challenges from Day 1 of their marriage.  A church renovation project was not completed so the wedding had to be relocated to the school cafeteria.  This resilience proved useful as Pat gave birth to three children within 23 months – John (February 1963), Rene (January 1964) and David (December 1964).  Ellen joined the family in March 1969.

They purchased a house from Sarge’s parents near 52^nd and Howard Streets and lived there for over 30 years while they raised their growing family.  Today, Rene and her family own the home.

In 1970, Pat decided to finish her college studies and embarked on a nine-year journey, attending night school at the University of Nebraska-Omaha while continuing to care for her family.  She graduated in 1979 with a BS in Secondary Education and began working as a history teacher.  Former students would tell her that her high expectations and strict classrooms were legendary.  Always interested in learning new things, she decided to pursue a Master’s in Urban Studies at UNO which she received in 1987.  She enjoyed a long career as a planner with the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency.

Sadly, Sarge passed away in 2005 and, while she greatly missed him, Pat remained resilient as always.  Her passion for gardening led her to obtain a Master Gardener certification after many hours of studying and testing.  She became a trusted resource for even the most obscure gardening questions.  During this period, she provided a home for almost every green watering can or marked-down plant that she came across.

Pat was a woman of great faith and joy who loved her family.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.  But her spirit and legacy will live on through our memories of her and through the values that she instilled in her children and grandchildren.