Obit: Durst, Patricia (1952 - 2009)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt

Email: rloss@bellsouth.net

Surnames: Ahuja, Berens, Davidson, Gresens, Kreager, Longdo, Lober, Luchterhand,

Machel, Mahnke, Schneiderwent, Weister

----Source: The Record Review (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) Wednesday, November 11, 2009, Online Edition

---- Durst, Patricia (March 16, 1952 – November 8, 2009)

Patricia Durst, 57, of Wausau died Sunday, November 8, 2009 at Hospice House.

Services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at St. Peter’s Lutheran

Church, Schofield. Burial will be in St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery, Marathon.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service at the church and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Helke Funeral Home, Wausau is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the church or charity of your choice.

----Source: The Wausau Daily Herald, Online Edition

Trusting in her Savior Jesus Christ for her salvation, and eagerly anticipating the joy of

heaven that awaited her, Patricia Lydia Durst left this world Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Her death brings to an end a courageous two-year battle with cancer. Her smile, sense of humor and positive spirit stayed with her to the end.

Pat was born March 16, 1952, to the late Walter and Violet (Machel) Gresens.

She was reborn through the water of baptism March 30, 1952. Her godparents were her grandfather, Robert Gresens; and her aunts, Irma (Alfred) Gresens and Verna (Harold) Schneiderwent.

She was confirmed May 8, 1966, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Marathon. The

Bible verse she chose was Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." These words were a guide and comfort to her throughout her life. She was a Christian example to all who knew her.

On June 11, 1972, she was united in marriage to Randy Durst of Hewitt. Together, they shared the love, challenges and excitement that marriage has to offer. They were partners, supporters and encouragers of each other in many plans and projects over the years. He survives her as do the children and grandchildren with whom they were blessed, Jennifer (Scott) Longdo, Dakota and Mackenzie, of Marathon; Jonathan (Kari) Durst, Kailey, Kaleb, Morgan and Madilyn, of Mosinee; and Julianne (Keith) Kreager, Landon and Mavrick, of Marathon.

She is further survived by one sister and two brothers and their spouses, Marlene (Paul) Lober of Jackson, Robert (Janice) Gresens of Marathon, and Daniel (Phyllis) Gresens of Appleton; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Rick Durst of Onalaska, Dennis (Ann) Durst of DeForest, Virginia (Glen) Luchterhand of Neilsville and Marg (Steve) Weister of Marshfield. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins; an aunt and uncle, James and Arvilla (Gresens) Berens; many friends and co-workers; and special friends, Tom and Carol Gustafson. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Dawson Kreager; grandparents, Robert and Ella Gresens and Robert and Lydia Machel; her in-laws, James and Dorothy Durst; and a sister-in-law, Joan Durst.

Pat worked at Mid-Wisconsin Beverage (Pepsi) for 26 years, most of those years as

office manager. Prior to that, she worked at Mark Koenig Accountants. She was part of the last group of students to attend Woodlawn School, a one-room school in the town of Marathon. She was a 1970 graduate of Marathon High School, and graduated from the former North Central Technical Institute in Wausau in 1972. As a member of St. Matthew's, she served as a Sunday School teacher and also as president of the Mission Circle. At St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schofield she was a past president of the Ladies Guild, served on the Altar Guild for 20 years, and sang in the Senior Choir. She was also a past president of the Northland Lutheran High School Ladies Auxiliary.

Pat enjoyed sharing time with her children, grandchildren, and other family and friends.

She loved spending time at the cottage near Phillips, especially enjoying the loons and

eagles with which she shared the lake. For her children and grandchildren, she leaves

behind a legacy of love and respect -- love and respect for each other, and most

importantly, love and respect for God. She will be remembered for her faith and

dedication to her Lord and the church, her kind and loving ways, her smile, laughing until the tears came, and the Christmas letters that related the events of the past year in that humorous way she had. She will be missed.

Pat and the family want to extend special thanks to Dr. Ahuja and the nurses and

caregivers at Aspirus Regional Cancer Center and Aspirus Hospice House.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Schofield. The Revs. Walter Davidson and Jeff Mahnke will officiate. Burial will be in St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery, Marathon. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. today, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church.

There will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. today at the church.

Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials may be given to the church or charity of your choice.

You may sign our family guest book at helke.com