Patricia Kay Trachsel
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Patricia Kay Trachsel passed away November 1, 2022, after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. She was surrounded by her children and wrapped in her husband’s arms.
Pat lived a full and fruitful life. She was born on November 14, 1942, in Webster City, Iowa to Albert and Alice Gabrielson and grew up on a soybean and dairy farm. The family motto was, ”everybody works.” So, Pat helped with the milking, the hogs and chickens, walked beans and drove the tractor.
A highlight of her high school years was the girls’ basketball program where, as a senior, she averaged 27 points per game and her team went to state.
In 1964, she earned her RN degree from Graceland University and married her college sweetheart, Ron, whom she had asked out on their first date. Thus began a lifetime love affair.
She then started a successful career in nursing and nurse education. She eventually earned her PhD in Adult Education. She worked for Graceland University for 20 years and retired as Professor and Dean of Independence Campus.
Pat was an amazing person with so many talents and passions. She loved music, playing the piano, children’s cantatas and choirs, cooking, canning, gardening, flowers, birds, traveling, Jayhawk basketball, Chiefs, Friday night dates, grandma days, being with friends, and was well known as an unapologetic chocoholic. But most of all, she loved her family. And we all worshiped her.
She leaves behind her adoring husband of 58 years, Ron, two daughters, Shauna and husband Doug Ferguson, Denise and husband David Muir, son Jason and wife Brooke, 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, two brothers, Richard and wife Fran Gabrielson, Terry and wife Jacki Gabrielson and countless wonderful friends,
Pat was kind, gentle, caring, and beautiful with gorgeous strawberry blonde hair and a smile that would light up the room. Grief is painful but it is the price we pay for true love.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00PM Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Community of Christ, 15520 S. Ridgeview Rd, Olathe KS 66062 (913 764-2677)
Following the celebration, to honor her memory, there will be a chocolate dessert bar in the multipurpose room. Pat will be there in spirit with us.
The family requests donations in memory of Pat be made to the nursing scholarship fund that she helped establish as a “San” nurse. This year the fund provided 11 scholarships in 4 countries. To donate, go online to www.healthedconnect.org/donate. Choose “nursing scholarship” in the drop-down menu and designate the donation is made in memory of Pat Trachsel or send a check to HealthEd Connect, 1409 West Truman Rd, Independence, MO 64052.
It was my honor to call Pat a great friend while at the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing and the friendship has continued since 1964’s graduation. The Sanettes rekindled our passion to sing together in 1984, at Graceland University’s homecoming, and continued frequent getting together to share stories, and of course sing. My heart is broken for your family, yet know the wonderful memories will sweeten the grief as the time passes. Prayers and blessings to your family.
Dorcas Wilkinson
Love you and will miss you forever dear old friend.
She had a great influence when I was a nursing student plus she was so sweet to accompany me as I played a flute solo in Miss Indeoendence pageant. She was a great nurse and mentor for nursing and life.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since Pat’s passing. I’m filled with so many wonderful memories we shared over the years and know that my life was enormously enriched by her friendship and the way she truly cared for every person in her life. She made an incredible difference in this world with her kindness, knowledge, work ethics and so much more… and especially, her infectious smile.