In Loving Memory of Paulette Ann (Panfil) Patzer
“Her hands served, her heart loved, and her legacy will live on forever.”
Paulette Ann (Panfil) Patzer, 78, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, passed away on July 9, 2026. Born April 22, 1947, in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Paulette was the beloved daughter of Sigmund John Panfil and Florence (Iverson) Panfil.
Paulette was preceded in death by her fiercely beloved husband, Glendon Irvin Patzer; her father, Sigmund John Panfil, and her mother, Florence (Iverson) Panfil.
She is lovingly survived by her son, Sheldon Patzer, ex-daughter-in-law Connie Patzer; her daughter, Shannan Siekert, and son-in-law, Dennis Siekert; her grandchildren, Ryan Patzer, Bryanna Patzer, Leyton Patzer, Zackery Patzer and his wife, Cheyanne, Amanda Lynn Patzer, Ashton Patzer, Zade Patzer and his wife, Heidi, Kassie Schenck, Mackenzie Parr and her husband, Matthew, and Maverick Siekert; 17 cherished great-grandchildren; three siblings; and many extended family members, friends, former coworkers, and individuals whose lives were touched by her compassion and care.
Paulette was a woman defined by compassion, an unwavering work ethic, and a heart devoted to caring for others. Early in her career, she worked in the building now known as the U.S. Bank Center in Milwaukee, (was the First Wisconsin building) the tallest building in Wisconsin, and later worked at Sequoia Supply, in Wausau, Wisconsin. She eventually found her calling in healthcare, serving as a Certified Nursing Assistant at The Renaissance for nearly 20 years.
For Paulette, caring for others was never simply a job. She walked alongside people during some of the most challenging and vulnerable moments of their lives, offering dignity, comfort, and compassion when they needed it most. Her experience and wisdom extended beyond those entrusted to her care. She freely shared her knowledge and advice with the nurses and caregivers around her, helping shape stellar healthcare professionals who carried her lessons and compassion forward. Her influence lives on not only in the patients she cared for, but also in the caregivers she helped inspire.
Above all else, Paulette loved her family fiercely. The love she shared with her husband, Glendon, was equally fierce—a deep and enduring devotion that remained an extraordinary part of her life and the story of their family. Their love, commitment, and life together created a legacy that continues through their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Throughout her life, Paulette found joy in creating and nurturing beautiful things. In her earlier years, she enjoyed sewing and painting figurines. She also possessed a long-standing green thumb and found happiness working in her garden. Her love of gardening became a passion she passed on to her daughter, Shannan, and, in time, Paulette found herself learning even more from the daughter to whom she had first given that gift. It was a beautiful reflection of their relationship and the way Paulette’s lessons continued to grow through those she loved.
Those who knew Paulette will remember her compassionate spirit, her strength, and her incredible work ethic. She spent a lifetime caring for others—as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, caregiver, mentor, and friend. She gave her time, her wisdom, and her heart freely.
The measure of Paulette’s life is found in the countless people she comforted, the caregivers she inspired, the family she fiercely loved, and the legacy she leaves behind. Her hands cared for many, but her heart always belonged to her family.
Though deeply missed, Paulette’s love will continue to live through every lesson she taught, every life she touched, and every memory her family carries forward. Her legacy will continue to bloom for generations, much like the gardens she so lovingly tended.
Family and friends are invited to gather in celebration of Paulette’s life on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Memorial Park in Wausau, Wisconsin 54403. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Please join Paulette’s family in celebrating her life. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, a memory, and a dish to pass, if they wish, as family and friends gather to share stories, remember, and celebrate a life so deeply loved.
Forever loved. Forever remembered. Her legacy lives on.
