Patricia Wolfgram

May 24, 1938 — July 2, 2025

Pat was born on May 24th,1938 into a family that included 5 other children, a family headed by August and Rose Kohlhoff. Along with her brothers August, Bobby, Freddy, Richard and sister June, it was a sizable family that struggled during the Depression era of America. The untimely death of Pat's father left Rose to raise the children on her own. Dire circumstances and poverty made for a difficult childhood and offered no comfortable memories. It was something seldom discussed but equally shared experience amongst them. It was a history that was better left forgotten than remembered. If any silver lining existed, it was that they could all move beyond what had been and embrace what was needed to move forward into a better life. For Pat, that future was with her future husband Art Wolfgram. On May 23rd, 1958, Pat and Art drove to Waukegan Illinois, with her brother August and his fiancé Betty, and eloped. It was the day before Pat's 21st birthday. They returned to Wisconsin afterwards and went back to their families, keeping their union secret. Like Pat, Art's childhood didn't offer many fond memories. What was important was that Art and Pat had each other and that there was a brighter future ahead of them. On May 9th, 1963, that future took the form of their only child Mark, who was born three and a half months premature weighing just over 3 pounds. After 41 days in an incubator Mark came home to a loving family. Art provided for the family in various ways, primarily with a factory job at Continental Can for 33 years. It was enough to get them started in a home on 41st and Hampton in Milwaukee. Later they moved to Morris Blvd. in Shorewood, then followed by a brief stay in a home in Whitefish Bay. They renovated and resold that house and lost money in the process. They had learned that flipping real estate wasn't always a guaranteed success. It was apartment living from there on out. The early 70's brought a different opportunity for Pat and Art. They opened a retail downhill ski shop that took a lot of time and effort to run and yielded very little profit in the end. Each year was a reinvestment into the upcoming season hoping for some breakout success and financial freedom. That never really happened and after 20 plus years, that dream was finally laid to rest. Pat had devoted most of her time trying to keep those doors open from 10 o'clock in the morning until the wee hours of the night, 7 days a week. She wanted Art to fulfil his dream of following in her brother Richard's footsteps and become a successful independent business owner. It felt like a prison for her at times, but the family was completely devoted to trying to make it happen. It was a rough 8 months a year to endure. Christmas was just a day off in a small family business. While the rest of the world celebrated, you finally had a chance to breathe. In 1989 Pat and Art took a job managing a 41unit apartment complex on the east side of Milwaukee called the Maryland Arms. They both put all their time and energy into the property. Hosting tenants from all corners of the globe and at all different ages and stages of life, often becoming a surrogate family to people attending the university from foreign lands. Often being referred to as Mom and Dad or Grandma and Grandpa. It was a badge of honor they both cherished. In the midst of that, Pat was active in the Church, heading the food pantry and outreach program at Salem Lutheran Church on The East Side. The program served the homeless, poor and the addicted in the community. It grew substantially under their guidance. Unfortunately, after a few years the internal politics of the program caused Pat to leave her labor of love and pursue the next phase of life for them, Art's decline in health and ultimate passing. Art passed away on October 29, 2011. It was Leukemia. After a successful 5-year battle with Prostate Cancer, he was informed a year later that Leukemia would be his probable downfall. Pat devoted herself to his care. In the end, Art was blind, bedridden and unable to care for himself, but Pat was there. She would see that he was tended to with dignity until his passing. After 53 years of marriage, they finally parted. Pat didn't cry for Art when he passed, she knew he had suffered so much, and now his suffering was over. Pat and Mark were able to buy a trailer home in Lannon, Wisconsin with the money from Art's insurance. That final act of caring for the ones he loved by planning for the inevitable future was Art's last gift to them. Pat finally retired, able to enjoy the peace and quiet along with a wonderful furry addition to the family named Wally. Times were good. However, time moved on, and life began to slow down for Pat. On July 2, 2025. She was reunited with her beloved Art. The chapters in her book had finally come to an end. Pat's Legacy is that she gave of herself, not for the accolades of being generous or for the affirmation of what she was doing, but out of the kindness of her soul. Her humble beginnings made her the woman she was. A devoted wife, a loving mother and a caring and nurturing person who will be sorely missed. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) in Pat's name. https:// hawspets.org/

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