Patricia Jean Herrmann

Patricia (“Pat”) Jean Herrmann (nee Kehlenbrink), died May 7th, 2023, after enduring an heroic battle against breast cancer for over 25 years.

Born August 6th, 1949, to parents John and Dorothy Kehlenbrink, Pat was taught to cherish and respect the natural world, which she cultivated through her love for gardening, her inclination to care for pets and injured wildlife, and most notably, her tendency to radiate kindness toward everyone she encountered.

Pat is survived by loving sons, Matthew (Jenny) and Michael (Katie) Herrmann; adoring grandchildren, Jonathan and Noelle; loyal younger brother, Ken; favorite cousin and close friend, “Jo”; countless other devoted relatives and friends; and of course, her 5-lb cuddly canine companion, Lexi, with whom she took many long walks and afternoon naps as they grew old together.

As one who tried deliberately to make everyone with whom she came in contact feel welcome, Pat was never shy about sparking up a conversation with a stranger, and her sense of compassion and generosity was ever-present. She loved meeting new people and hearing stories about the happiness and adventures of others. At the forefront of Pat’s mind was always a tender desire to find a way to help others. Through and through, Pat exemplified a gentle and loving soul; her impact on the world is far-reaching and impossible to trace.

Pat will be remembered for the stunning variety of flowers she spent hours cultivating in her yard each year. The wealth of knowledge that she passed on as she modeled for others how to nurture the flora, birds, and woodland creatures that graced her garden was vast. She also loved to travel, which she did extensively with her family and friends, up until cancer made it too difficult. One of her favorite trips, which she reminisced about just days before her death, was to South Africa with her brother, Ken, and son, Michael, where she fed elephants, walked among giraffes, and gazed upon many splendid sunsets.

If you’d like to contribute to Pat’s legacy as a remarkably strong woman who will live eternally in all of us, we’d recommend you plant a tree, care for an animal, or make a donation to the Wildlife in Need Center in Oconomowoc, WI, where Pat enjoyed volunteering for many years.

“We don’t own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.” -Steve Irwin