October 10, 1939 - July 13, 2018

Patsy Gagnon, 78, of Spooner passed away, peacefully, on Friday, July 13, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth from an aggressive sepsis infection.

Patsy was born on October 10, 1939, to Woodrow and Marie (Gavin) Brown, in BrownLee, WI.  She attended elementary school in Springbrook and high school in Spooner graduating with the class of 1957.  After high school she attended Barron County Normal (now part of University of Wisconsin system) and received her teaching certificate.  She began her teaching career at Lake School in Hayward. On December 18, 1960, she united in marriage to Charles Gagnon at the United Methodist Church (UMC), in Spooner.  She continued to teach first grade in Hayward until the couple moved to Laurel, Maryland where Charles was reassigned by the Army. She received another teaching position at O’ W’ phair Elementary School in Laurel.  After teaching there for 7 years the couple moved to Westminster, Maryland.  There Patsy organized and ran a preschool for twelve years.  After raising 2 sons and 3 foster sons, she felt a need to again be around young people.  She took a position as Director of a Day Care Center at Ft Geo. G. Meade, Maryland, supervising 65 care givers.

After retiring at the same time as Charles in 1994, she returned to the Spooner area and become active in the various functions and committees of the UMC and became very involved with the Alzheimer’s respite group (The Happy Day Club) where she enjoyed the scheduling of the volunteers.  She loved to be surrounded with family and friends.

Patsy is survived by: her husband, Charles, sons; Christopher (Cassandra) Gagnon, Jonathan (Robin) Gagnon, and Niels (Jenny) Klepp-Egge, five grandchildren; Gavin, Jovilin, Charlie, Laila, and Layton, siblings; Woody (Sharon) Brown, Mike (Maria) Brown, MaryLou (Arnie) Hoecherl, David Brown, and Robert Brown, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.   She was preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at The United Methodist Church in Spooner. Pastor Ferdinand Serra will officiate, with scripture readings by Arnie Hoecherl.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be in The Spooner Cemetery. 

Last Update: Dec 16, 2018 5:45 pm CST