Dec. 21, 2017 – Patricia “Pati” Ericson, 74, a woman of many talents, died early Tuesday morning, Nov. 21, 2017 after spending time with her husband, sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, sisters and niece. She passed away quietly at home after a battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
She was born, Feb. 18, 1943, and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the daughter of Helen and Peter Platten, one of four children. A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, she taught in elementary school in Neenah, Wisconsin before retiring to raise her family.
The family moved to West Bend, Wisconsin in 1969, where she served on the boards of the West Bend Art Museum (now the Museum of Wisconsin Art), the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and the Kettle Moraine YMCA. She served as the first female president of the YMCA.
Pati met her husband, James Ericson, in 2000 and spent nearly two decades with him. After his retirement as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Northwestern Mutual Life, they lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Subsequently, they became residents of the Sarasota, Florida area, while still visiting friends and family in Wisconsin regularly.
She was a superb athlete, excelling in tennis, skiing and golf. She was also a talented artist and enjoyed painting large-scale waterscapes. Vivacious, bright, and always honest, Pati had an unforgettable laugh. In her later years, she loved nothing more than playing with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband James Ericson; two sons from her first marriage, Sean (Cathie) Torinus of Mequon, WI and Dan (Ingrid) Torinus of Madison, WI; four grandchildren, Jack, Sophia and Michael Torinus of Mequon and Molly Torinus of Madison. She is further survived by her two step-children, Linda (David) Hill of Kansas City, MO and Bob (Swannee) Ericson of St. Louis, MO and Richmond, VA; four step-grandchildren, James (Andrea) Hill, Kristi (Jon) Tanner, Ellie (Scott) Sherrill and Will Ericson; and four step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Peter (Bonnie) Platten; two sisters, Anne (Larry) Platten Lemke and Jane Platten (Rob Huver) and a host of other family and friends.
Services were held in the Grand Ballroom of the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee on Wednesday, November 29. A service will be held in Sarasota on January 15, 2018.
The family would like express their heartfelt appreciation to the team of dedicated caregivers who brought such comfort to Pati in her final months and days.
Memorials in Pati’s name are suggested to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, 108 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, 53202 or the Museum of Wisconsin Art, 205 Veterans Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095 or the Kettle Moraine YMCA, 1111 West Washington Street, West Bend, WI 53095.