Patricia Colwitz

Patricia “Patti” Lou (Stephani) Colwitz, age 75, of De Pere, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025, following a courageous two-month battle with an aggressive cancer. She was surrounded by her loving husband and children at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.

Patti was born on June 28, 1950, at St. Elizabeth Memorial Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin. She grew up on the family farm in Black Creek with her parents, Eugene and Lois Stephani.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Gene Colwitz; her three children, Erin (William) Colwitz, Sarah Kubiak, and Andrew (Jennine) Colwitz; and her cherished grandchildren, Olivia (16) and Lucille Kubiak (12). Patti is also lovingly remembered by her siblings, Barbara VanStraten, Bruce (Sarah) Stephani, LuAnn (Dwight) Louison, Laurie (Jim) Palubicki, Brian (Jean) Stephani, and Brad Stephani; her brother-in-law, Jack Colwitz; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Gene’s parents, Ervin and Ethel Colwitz; Erin’s husband, William Dehning; and her brother-in-law, Jerry Colwitz.

Patricia graduated from Seymour High School and went on to earn her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1972. On June 3 of that year, she married the love of her life, Eugene Colwitz. Soon after, she began her career as a choir director at Edison Junior High in Green Bay. After 16 years of teaching music, Patti returned to school and earned her Master of Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She then moved into a guidance counselor role at Preble High School, eventually serving as Head of the Guidance Counseling Department.

Over the course of her 35-year career in public education, Patti was deeply respected and admired by colleagues and students alike. She touched the lives of thousands with her warmth, wisdom, and dedication. Her family often joked that she could never visit a grocery store in Northeast Wisconsin without running into one of her many former students—each of whom held her in the highest regard.

Patti retired in 2007, with Gene following shortly after. Together, they embraced retirement wholeheartedly, traveling extensively and cherishing time with family and close friends. They explored much of the continental United States and Canada, as well as eleven European countries with their children and their spouses.

Pat excelled in many things, but above all she mastered the art of balancing a meaningful career with being an extraordinary mother.

She and Gene raised three successful children of whom she was immensely proud—Erin, Sarah, and Andy. Together, they never missed an important milestone or event in their children’s or grandchildren’s lives. Whether it was one of Erin’s concerts, one of Andy and Jennine’s epic dinners, or helping Sarah prepare for a nonprofit event, Patti was always there. She delighted in attending every one of her grandchildren’s activities—rarely missing Olivia’s concerts and swim meets, or Lucy’s soccer and basketball games. Her family was her greatest joy, and she embodied the very essence of a mother’s selfless and unconditional love.

Beyond family, Patti was a passionate environmentalist and community advocate. A devoted member of the Sierra Club, she eagerly explored ways to live more sustainably—composting, reducing plastics, and cultivating butterfly gardens on her property. Her love of animals was legendary, especially cats, though over the years she welcomed countless dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and fish into her home—and even managed to turn Gene into a cat lover early in their marriage.

Patti also earned the distinction of Master Gardener. For nearly 40 years, she and Gene transformed their 11-acre Ledgeview estate into a breathtaking oasis of trees, water features, and gardens. Their property was even featured on the Green Bay Garden Walk—an honor made all the more memorable when Gene threw out his back trying to meet Patti’s high standards for garden perfection. Later, the gardens at their De Pere home were recognized with a Beautification Award from the City of De Pere.

Above all, Patti loved spending time with her family—telling stories, singing, dancing, laughing, quoting movies and SNL, making silly faces, and dancing in the driveway. She was the consummate host, ensuring every gathering was joyful. She loved to laugh at herself and with her children and grandchildren, and was perfectly “ok” with being lovingly teased. An amazing dancer, she perfected dances such as the “weeble-wobble” and the Michael Jackson “slap.” She was always “hip,” dressing as Cyndi Lauper for Halloween at school and keeping up with the latest slang and pop music. A beautiful singer and pianist, Patti loved harmonizing with her sisters and children, performing at weddings and family gatherings. Her family adored her “isms” and delightfully incorrect song lyrics. She also never resisted a Reese’s peanut butter cup or any chocolate dessert, always remarking with a grin, “I really shouldn’t be eating this.”

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Vickery Village (1749 Riverside Dr, Suamico, WI 54173). Friends and family are welcome to gather at 3:30pm; a short presentation will begin at 4pm. Light hors d’oeuvres with beer and wine will follow. Patti would have wanted her family and friends to celebrate her beautiful life with stories, laughter, and silliness. All are welcome to come with memories of Patti to share.

Patti will be remembered for her deep devotion to family, her warmth and humor, her love of learning, and the joy and beauty she brought to those around her. In her memory, donations may be made to the Sierra Club Foundation, the Fox Valley Humane Association, or the Green Bay Botanical Gardens.