Patsy Jean "Girlfriend, Sparkle, G-Ma, Great-Gi Gi" Koren

(nee Wepfer) Reunited with her beloved husband Samuel and dearest sister Marlene Pfeiffer, on Thursday, April 15, 2021, age 89.  Loving mother of Lisa Koren (John) Turner, Lori (Todd) Hobart, and Danny (Michelle May).  Caring Grandma of Collin and Taylor Turner, Lindsay (Max) Grafwallner, and Bradley (Mel) Hobart.  Proud great- Gi Gi to Mia and baby to be Ella.  Special aunt to Debra (Del) Molketin, Carrie (Demo) Staver, Susie (Todd) Klumb, Nancy (Steve) Sargis, Steve (Debbie) Koren, Mindy (Keith) Boysen, Scott (Ali) Joffe, and Renee (Tom Hrlevich) Joffe. Warmhearted sister-in-law to Irv (Phyllis) Koren and Marsha (the late Ivan) Joffe.  Kind niece to the late Al and Marian Wepfer.  Fond cousin of Kay and Anita Wepfer. Sweetie and companion of George Habhegger for the last ten years. Further loved by her late pets Babe and Kishmere, all of her “girlfriends and boyfriends” Ellen Brandt, Carol Rode Libby, Chrystal, Patsy, Jean, Bob, devoted nurse Andrea, special chef Kristin, staff Colleen and Dena, captain of the ship Jenny, devoted caregivers, and hospice staff Nicole and Tracy from Allay.  Patsy was very loved and will be remembered as a positive, upbeat, kind, friendly, and loving woman who will be missed by other relatives and friends.

Born in Milwaukee to the late Arthur and Aileen (nee Powell) Wepfer, she attended West Division High School and sang in the choir where she met her sweetie George.  Hardworking and self sufficient, she worked in a furniture store and soda shop in a pharmacy. Patsy and Marlene were pretty much on their own as Art and Aileen divorced when they were young and Aileen worked at the Wisconsin Hotel as a cigarette girl.

Patsy met the love of her life and husband Samuel while he was fitting the “glass slipper” on her foot.  He followed her out of the shoe store and wanted to go out with her. She fell head over heels or should we say shoes for Sam, he however had to be tamed and after many dates she finally said, “Either you marry me or I never want to see you again.”  He replied, “Let me go home and ask my mother”.  They never had an engagement period as Sam and Pat had to get married before baby brother Babe. They got married on Valentine’s day after she converted to being Jewish in Sam’s parents’ home. They raised their family in Brookfield in the home she cherished. Family vacations to Eagle River and Hayward were loved by all.  They often traveled with Don and Bobbie Boorse as well as Kenny and Carole Rode and other friends throughout the years.

Living in Brookfield for 58 years before moving to Dickson Hollow, she refused “over her dead body” to move from her cherished home. Lisa replied, “That’s ok…I work for Krause Funeral Home and I can help you with that.” Soon that was no longer a choice. Having two bouts with pneumonia and dementia she was told by her doctors she could no longer live alone in her home.  She moved to Dickson Hollow the day before they shut down for COVID-19.  God’s blessings and intervention.  She had people delivering her meals, meds, and checking in on her.  There was more social interaction then she would have ever gotten living alone in her home. She was surrounded by her new family, the wonderful and caring staff of Dickson Hollow and was loved by all her “girlfriends’ there.

Patsy enjoyed gardening especially growing tomatoes for Sam, Zucchini the size of a club and flowers. Her yard had a patio with a rainbow umbrella, green room and white room where she would sit, drink gin and tonic, watch the birds and have a wonderful meal.  Sam and Pat loved to rummage and were always looking for bargains. When she could no longer drive her red Toyota Camry her son-in-law John became her chauffeur, we would tease saying “he was driving Miss Patsy”. She would practically run into Piggly Wiggly to the sale cart to get her reduced veggies, fruit and bakery. John took her on Tuesdays and Thursdays to her favorite place the Brookfield Senior Center where she would exercise with her friends.  After the senior center it was on to the bank where she would walk in and say to all, “I’m here”, greet staff, cash her checks, and grab a cup of coffee.  She loved to get her mail because she got checks and not bills.  When her mail came to Lisa and John’s she had three time more mail than they did.  Thank God for deposits by phone as Lisa could deposit those checks without the visits to the bank.

She loved to tell jokes that she learned at the Senor Center especially the one about the fleas taking a walk on a dog.  Everything to Patsy was wonderful and beautiful including barns, grass, trees, landscapes and people.

A beautiful striking woman always looking 20 years younger than she was-could be from the clothes handed down from daughters and her first real “girlfriend” granddaughter Lindsay. She wore her hair long and brown until she went blond and later in life a silver gray.  One day she decided she wanted it short like Katy Perry and did she rock it! She loved the color purple, sparkles, especially her jeans from Amanda, and looking cute. She was nick named Sparkle from her late friend Al.

Other people came first to Patsy.  She always asked, “How are the boys, Paying the bills, living in your house, how do you like your new house?”  With her dementia she tried so hard to communicate and carry on conversations. She would repeat the same things over and over until her short- term memory became less and less.

Patsy could cook, sew, upholster, garden, tell jokes, decorate, lead cub scouts, walk for miles, take in stray animals, be a caregiver to her father and husband at the same time, matchmaker, stand in mother, and friend to all.  She did things her way.  ‘I am not sleeping in that crib” when they brought in her the hospital bed.  Her old bed had to be put back.  Dying when it was right for her and on her terms and when she said her dad is waiting for her.  She gave her family and staff at Dickson Hollow a rally day.  She was completely unresponsive until she woke up to the sound of her son-in-law John’s voice saying “Hi John” and knocking the socks off of family and staff who thought for sure she was going to die.  She was not ready asking for Cousin’s, drinking peach tea, and consuming more food than she did in two weeks. She was surrounded by her family and friends and knew this was the last Hurrah.   What a wonderful gift she gave us all.  After many prayers from family, staff and CEO of PHS, she died less than a week later peaceful in her sleep with her daughter Lisa and nurse Andrea at her bedside.

Dress as Patsy would for her service.  Wear Packers, Brewers or Badger gear, sparkles or purple her favorite color.  No suits or ties, casual

Proper social distancing and masks appreciated.

Memorials appreciated to the staff at Dickson Hollow or Allay Hospice, Humane Society or the charity or your choice.

A special “thank you to Dickson Hollow and Allay Hospice for the loving, compassionate, respectful care given to Patsy and her family.

“Have a nice piece of melon”

You are now dancing with the Angels

Rest in peace