Patricia Ann Freele passed away Easter morning, April 5, 2026. Pat was born on the family farm in Middle Inlet, Wisconsin, on July 14, 1935, to William and Mary (Gerbyshak) Dunlap.
As the middle child of seven, Pat had a happy, hardworking childhood filled with farm, garden and household chores. She especially enjoyed cooking and baking with her mother. She learned to sing and play the piano early on. Music was a source of joy throughout her life.
Pat graduated from Wausaukee High School in 1953, where she caught the eye of classmate Roger Freele. After graduation, she put her secretarial skills to work in the office of Bond Pickle Company in Oconto. Pat and Roger were married at St. Augustine Church in Wausaukee on June 11, 1955. They lived and worked on the Freele family dairy farm in the Town of Wausaukee, and raised their five daughters.
As a farm wife, Pat’s life was full of faith and purpose. She was the original multi-tasker, managing the farm business, raising children and chickens, planting and caring for a huge garden, and harvesting vegetables and fruits that fed the family all year long. Pat’s delicious and bountiful meals and desserts were nothing short of legendary. Salesmen of farm equipment and home products usually arrived at lunch time and could always count on Pat to set an extra place!
No matter how busy the farm season, Pat was there to support her daughters in their school activities, music programs and religious education. And no matter how late, she sat down with her journal every night to document the day’s weather and events.
After Roger’s death in 2003, Pat built a new home and moved to the Village of Wausaukee. She was proud to work at the Wausaukee election polls, loved spending time with church groups and friends, and especially enjoyed being part of music entertainment and singalongs at NEWCare in Crivitz.
In 2019, Pat moved to Green Bay to enjoy the close company of family and the warm community of her assisted living home. Spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her great joy.
Pat is survived by her daughters: Mary Ellen (Jerry) Edlebeck and children Jeff Edlebeck and Emily (Lee Bartels) Milquet; Jan (George) Wiesner and children Josh and Ben Wiesner; Kathy (Dale) Dallmann and son Jared (Emily) Parr; Julie (Ron) Backmann and children Megan (Nate Leigh) Backmann and Daniel (Delaney) Backmann; and Karen (Brian) Harter and children Courtney (Steve) Okan, Jessica (Alex) Holmes and Jared (Carrie) Harter. She is also survived by sisters Rose (George) Vedra and Dorothy (Tom) Wojcik, and brothers Richard (Judy) Dunlap and Mike Dunlap, brothers-in-law William Freele, Pete Kritch, and sisters-in-law Betty Dunlap and Susan (Bob) Landenberger. She is further survived by 13 great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Roger, her in-laws Charles and Marjorie Freele, brother William Dunlap, sister Mary Catherine (Don) Huempfner, sisters-in-law Judy Dunlap, Pat Kritch and Evelyn Freele.
A funeral mass and celebration of Pat’s life will be held Friday, May 8, 2026, at Pat’s lifelong parish, St. Augustine Church, 507 Church St., Wausaukee, Wisconsin. Visitation 9:30 - 11:00 a.m., with Mass at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, Unity Hospice or St. Augustine Parish. Pat’s family deeply appreciates the kindness and compassion of her caregivers at Tender Hearts Assisted Living and Unity Hospice.
Roubal Funeral Home of Wausaukee is assisting Pat’s family with arrangements.
