Obit: McFarlane, Patrick Irving "Pat" #2 (1954 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: McFarlane, Duffy, Knoll, Franz, Ashbeck, Potocnik, Jaramillo, Ehlers, Debevec, Brice

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/18/2015

McFarlane, Patrick Irving (Pat) (14 May 1954 - 7 March 2015)

Patrick I. ‘Pat’ McFarlane, 60, of Glen Flora, formerly of Willard, died Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the Rusk County Memorial Hospital in Ladysmith.

Patrick Irving McFarlane was born in Riceville, IA, May 14, 1954, the son of Donald A. and Donna F. (Duffy) McFarlane. As a young boy, his family moved to a farm near Willard where Pat attended North Willard School. While attending Greenwood high School, he worked at the Barr Minkery. He graduated from the Greenwood High School in 1972. Pat was united in marriage to Deborah May Knoll June 16, 1973, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard. Shortly after marriage, Pat began a four-year apprenticeship in steam and pipe fitting through Chippewa Valley Technical College with Local 383 in Chippewa Falls, which later merged with Local 434 in Mosinee. During his apprenticeship, he also worked in the woods as a logger, hauled milk on weekends for Elmdale Cheese Factory and later for North Hendren Cheese to provide for his growing family. After becoming certified in his trade, Pat worked for 33 years with Local 434 until retiring in June of 2014.

Pat had many interests in life, but especially loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, hunting, fishing, anything outdoors, sunrises, sunsets and the simple things in life. He enjoyed staying active, often taking long walks with his wife along scenic country roads or quiet, remote trails. Pat took great pride in his steam-fitting work, never failed a welding test and was the ‘Rock Star’ of the steam-and -pipe-fitting world. He worked to live, not lived to work.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Deb, of Glen Flora; his four sons: Scott (Cathy) McFarlane of Appleton, Dan (Erin) McFarlane of Stevens Point, Dean (Carrie) McFarlane of Marshfield, Matt (Carissa) McFarlane of Fall Creek; 11 grandchildren: Amber, Dylan, Darcy, Sean, Beckett, Reid, Crew, Rudy, Payne, Holly and Owen; his mother, Donna McFarlane of Willard; four sisters: Carol (Bill) Franz of Colby, Barbara (Rodger) Ashbeck of Greenwood, Kathy (Jeff) Potocnik of Trego and Donna Marie Jaramillo of Neillsville; three brothers, Allen McFarlane of Neillsville, David (Pam) McFarlane of Greenwood and Larry (Bev) McFarlane of Willard; his mother-in-law, Arlene Knoll of Neillsville, sister-in-law, Sue (Butch) Ehlers of Neillsville; brother-in-law, Lon (Patti) Knoll of Greenwood; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald A. McFarlane; one son, Patrick Irving McFarlane, Jr.; one daughter, baby girl McFarlane in infancy; and his father-in-law, Hank Knoll.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 12, 2015, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard with Rev. Steve Brice officiating. Interment will take place at a later date. Visitation was held at the church, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again one hour prior to the service. Pallbearers were: Lon Knoll (brother-in-law), Larry McFarlane (brother), Dave McFarlane (brother) and Al Debevec (friend).

In lieu of flowers, Pat’s family asks that donations be given in his name for a memorial to be established at a later date.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Cuddie Funeral Home of Greenwood assisted the family with arrangements.