Patricia A. "Pat" Meissen

1937 - 2025

Patricia A. "Pat" Meissen

January 17, 1937 - October 30, 2025

MADISON - Patricia Ann Meissen, age 88, of Madison Wis., beloved matriarch of the Meissen family, a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away on Thursday, October 30, 2025, leaving behind a family she created and was fiercely proud of. Gentle in her own quiet way, she was independent, strong willed, and "the best mom in the whole world." She kept her positive outlook on life to the very end. Family was her life and her proudest accomplishment.

Patricia was born on January 17, 1937, the daughter of kind and loving parents, Emmett J. and Margaret J. (Tschabold) Waller, in Durand, Ill. She was the oldest of three farm girls and very proud to grow up in a strong farm family. She learned early the values of hard work, dedication, and the importance of family bonds.

Patricia embraced motherhood with a natural, nurturing grace. By age 24, she had four children, and by 29, she had welcomed her fifth. Family was everything to Patricia, and she devoted herself to creating a loving, stable home. Patricia valued education and along with Marvin, instilled in their children the importance of service, scholarship, and integrity. She was a homemaker in the truest sense; a creative decorator who kept a beautiful home, put together stunning flower arrangements, and was known for her Saturday cleaning rituals, that her children remember with a mixture of amusement and admiration, from 'milking' plants to scrubbing tiles with a toothbrush.

Patricia named all her children after saints because of her strong Catholic faith, hoping her five children would emulate their examples. She was actively involved in the Schoenstatt religious family group, religious education in the Catholic Diocese of Madison, and St. Dennis Parish. Her faith gave her the quiet strength and positive outlook that sustained her throughout her life.

Patricia was a very intelligent and commonsense woman. She graduated in 1954 from Rockford School of Business, Rockford, Ill. She built a respected career as an administrative assistant for Madison Metropolitan School District, where her organizational skills and warm presence made her indispensable. Starting in 1969 after the last of Patricia's children started kindergarten, she went to work as a teacher's aide at then Badger Elementary School. After its closure, she moved to Sennett Middle School and worked in the library, before transferring to several positions at the administration building, finding her niche in Integrated Student Services until her retirement. During her time at MMSD, she also furthered her education at Madison Area Technical College, earning a Real Estate license, allowing her to work for Century 21. Patricia retired from MMSD in 1999 but continued to sub at several schools in the district into her late seventies, including working at La Follette where her grandkids and kids attended. Even the most challenging students being sent to the office for behavior issues, found her quiet demeanor calming and reassuring.

Though Patricia was born before women fully participated in organized sports, she was the ultimate sports fan for her family. She never missed a volleyball, basketball, football, softball or track event in which her kids participated. Patricia was a La Follette Lancer fan through and through and became a Spartan fan as well when her youngest, Tina, went to Memorial High School. Once her children were grown Patricia enjoyed traveling all around the world to several Olympics and other major sporting events with her husband, Steve Aronson, who worked for CBS sports. In retirement Patricia continued to travel well into her eighties to attend her grandkids' sporting events, as well as concerts, military ceremonies, scholarship banquets and other numerous activities. She never missed an event.

Patricia's gift for bringing family together was legendary. She planned and organized card parties, Christmas hotel gatherings with extended family, Thanksgiving, monthly birthday parties and family reunions, keeping detailed notes to ensure everyone continued the family traditions. She planned and organized many vacations, packing up the family for camping trips to northern Wisconsin, Gulf Shores, and out west to Colorado where the family spent several vacations. The Colorado mountains held a special place in Patricia's heart, and she hoped to make one last trip there this fall.

Patricia wasn't shy about sharing her life story with anyone she encountered, whether it be the doctor, neighbor, priest, store clerk or random stranger. She always began the story about being raised on a farm with her loving and wonderful parents, how she raised five kids who were so smart and successful, continuing to beam with pride about her grandkids and their accomplishments, and how blessed she was to have so many great-grandkids. She loved them all!

Patricia is survived by her husband, Stephen Michael Aronson; five children: son, Phillip Andrew (Gail) Meissen, daughter, Theresa Susan Meissen (Kyle Mathews), son, Michael James Meissen (Debbie Fairweather), daughter, Anna Bernadette (Michael) Brown and daughter, Christina Collette (Michael) Dunn; 12 grandchildren: Danielle (Tony) Wampole, Kari (Nick) Glattard, Aaron (Torri) Meissen, Brad (Lauren) Meissen, Katelyn (Jake) Keller, Nathan (Ebba) Brown, Matthew (Marie) Brown, Lauren (Brian) Mixtacki, Kristin (Ben) Lipanot, Keahn (Megan) Dunn and Kevin Dunn (Willa); 26 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Emmett Joseph Waller and Margaret Jessie (Tschabold) Waller; her former spouse, Marvin Francis Meissen; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Jack Graham, and Suzzanne and Lawrence Damon; daughter-in-law, Karen Ellen (Erickson) Meissen; granddaughter, Kristina Marie Meissen; and great-granddaughter, Karina Maria.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at QUEEN OF APOSTLES PARISH, ST. DENNIS CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025. Family and friends who wish to view the Mass via LIVESTREAM may visit Patricia's obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the Mass and click on "Watch Now" in the Webcast section. A luncheon will follow the Mass at the church. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2025, and again at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Friday. A graveside service will be held at LAONA CEMETERY, Durand, Ill., at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025.

Memorials may be made in Patricia's name to: Madison Community Foundation, 111 N. Fairchild St., Madison, WI 53703, with the fund name: "#8021369 Meissen, Brown, and Dunn Family Giving Fund" written in the memo portion of your check. Online donations may be made at www.madisongives.org/Meissen.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420