Patricia Mabel (Madsen) Parrish passed away surrounded by her loving family January 27, 2025.  She was born on June 18, 1931, to Helen Laila (Cheese) Madsen and Hans Lauritzen Madsen in Little Falls, Minnesota. She grew up on the family farm in Swanville, Minnesota, (near Upsala) with her two brothers and a sister, and she fondly remembered the many trips she took to visit her grandfather in Minneapolis.

Patricia graduated from Upsala High School in June of 1949 in a class of 32 students, and enjoyed being the drum majorette. She then attended a two-year teacher college in Mankato, MN and began her career teaching 2nd grade in International Falls, MN in 1951.  While teaching, she began writing letters and corresponding with Charles Duane "Dewey" Parrish while he was in basic training for the Army. This relationship was facilitated by their older sisters who were in nursing school together. She married her "pen pal" on June 21, 1952, and they moved to St. Peter, MN, where Charles attended Gustavus Adolphus College. It was here that the first of their six children was born in 1955.

After Charles graduated from college in 1956, the family moved to Park Rapids, MN. Charles accepted a teaching and coaching position. It was here the remaining five children were born rounding out the family with three boys and three girls. The Parrish family of eight enjoyed camping together, playing cards, sharing music around the piano, attending church activities and being involved in sports, school band, orchestra, and musicals.

After raising her six children, Patricia returned to college in 1975, attending UW Oshkosh to obtain her teaching degree in Special Education. She taught at Lincoln Elementary School in Beaver Dam for 16 years before retiring in 1993.  Pat had a passion for children and found joy in her students' successes. She and Dewey enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, and spending countless hours with their children and 14 grandchildren. They traveled the world together with numerous Caribbean and Baltic cruises, family trips to Denmark, Spain, Hawaii, and the World's Fair in 1967. They also spent their time each winter as snowbirds in Destin, Florida where they developed many lasting friendships.

Pat always kept herself busy: she loved knitting, sewing, reading and canning fresh garden produce. After retiring, she took up drawing and acrylic painting and filled her home with a gallery of her creations!  Pat was often heard to say "it's never too late to take up a new hobby!"

Pat and Dewey were long-time members of Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaver Dam. They were involved in the church choir, family activities and church family camping.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Charles Duane Parrish, her parents, Hans and Helen Madsen, her brothers, Howard (Buster) Madsen and Richard (Dick) Madsen and a sister Marge Harlow and other relatives and friends.

She is survived by her children, Cynthia A. (Parrish) Zozakiewicz of Port Washington, WI; Charles A. Parrish (Roxanne) of Attleboro, MA; Craig A. Parrish (Birgitte) of Alleroed, Denmark; Cheryl A. (Parrish) Jordan (Mitch) of McFarland, WI; Cary A. Parrish (Nelida) of Norwalk, CA; Caron A. Parrish-Nowell (Marvin) of Charlotte, NC. Her legacy lives on in her fourteen grandchildren (Carissa, Brandon, Christina, Caitlin, Charles Benjamin, Mark, Aaron, Cory, Cary Ann, Steven, Casy, Benjamin, Kevin, and Lily), and fourteen great-grandchildren (Colton, Cameryn, Cecelia, Finley, Victor, Mathilda, Freya, Eleanor, Charles Everett, Lucille, Greta, Valentinus, Henri, and Harper). Further survived by two AFS exchange students, Andrea (Germany) and Mary (MA) and other relatives and friends.

A celebration of Pat's life will be held at Trinity Church - United Methodist in Beaver Dam, WI on Friday, May 16th. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:30 am with funeral service and light lunch immediately following.  Private burial will take place at Blooming Grove United Methodist Church, Morristown, MN. You may view the livestream of Pat's service here: http://www.trinityumbd.org/onlineworship.

Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family.