Patricia D. Kipfmueller, 71, of Fife Lake, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, after a brief illness of cancer. On Aug 1, 1934, in Detroit, she was born the daughter of Hamilton and M. Delores Aldridge.
Pat graduated from Immaculata High School and Hillsdale College, and attended the Merrill-Palmer Institute of Child and Family Development.
She married Leo J. Kipfmueller at St. Francis De Salle Church in Detroit on June 15, 1957. Pat and Leo resided in various places in Michigan, settling in Mt. Pleasant in 1968. Pat spent her summers at Ham’s Hollow and the Aldridge family farm in Fife Lake since childhood.
She was a fierce competitor in croquet and a participant in the annual Mimosa Open since its inception at Ham’s Hollow, winning the cup in 1998. She and Leo made Fife Lake their permanent residence in 1997, following Leo’s retirement from Central Michigan University.
Pat worked as a preschool, kindergarten and first grade teacher. She also was the owner and operator of Pat’s House Day Care in Mt. Pleasant.
She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, instilling in her children and grandchildren a great sensitivity toward others.
Pat was a member of Pi Beta Phi, the Michigan Education Association, the National Education Association, the Early Childhood Association, CMU Faculty Spouses, PFLAG, Sacred Heart and St. Aloysius Parishes.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Leo J. Kipfmueller; daughters, Mary (Mike) Kattreh of Blanchard, Marta (Barney) Theisen of Grosse Pointe Park and Meg (Rich) Delor of St. Clair Shores; son, Karl (Dan Myers) Kipfmueller of Brooklyn, N.Y., Dave Kipfmueller of Oakland Park, Fla., Paul (Lillian) Kipfmueller of Grosse Pointe and Kurt (Kara) Kipfmueller of St. Paul, Minn. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ryan and Zachary Robinson, Allison Kattreh, Caitlin, Amelia and Hayley Theisen, Kaylee and Caden Kipfmueller, and Siebrand Kipfmueller. Additionally, she is survived by her brothers, Tom (Jean) Aldridge of Greenville, S.C., and Hamilton (Rusty) Aldridge of Ferndale; and several nieces and nephews.
Pat was predeceased in death by her parents, Hamilton and M. Delores Aldridge; and her son, John Leo Kipfmueller in 1991.
Visitation will be today, Feb. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., with a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska. Funeral services will be held at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Fife Lake on Friday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m., with Father James Barrand officiating. Inurnment will take place at the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Fife Lake at a later date.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, Special Services Unit, for the loving and professional care provided to Pat during these last few months.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the NAMES Project Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt, St. Aloysius Altar Society and the Vasculitis (Wegener's) Foundation.
