Nancy Jo Patterson died on February 15, 2026, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin after a brief illness.
Nancy Jo was born to Leon S. and Ruth Lamb Patterson on July 7, 1937, in rural Evansville, Wisconsin. Her early years were spent on the Patterson Farm near Brooklyn. She attended Evansville schools and graduated from Evansville High School in 1955. Nancy attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a BS in social work in 1959. She completed an MS in social work from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1964. An early job as a recreation leader on a military base in South Korea was a treasured experience, and she shared her observations about her experiences in that country widely with interested family members.
After a period as a child welfare social worker in Outagamie Count, the remainder of Nancy’s career was spent with Wood County Social Services, State of Wisconsin. In the early 1970’s Nancy sponsored six Vietnamese men who immigrated to the United States as refugees, helping them to get settled and find jobs. Nancy stayed in touch with these men and their families for the rest of her life. Nancy retired in 1995, having decided there were many things she wanted to do and see. Following retirement, she moved to Fish Lake full-time, replacing her cottage with a larger, year-round house. For many years after her retirement Nancy volunteered at Altrusa International, a service organization in Marshfield. She also volunteered with Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners. Nancy enjoyed extensive travel abroad as well as in the United States. Needlework of all kinds was her passion; eventually she focused on quilting. Many Patterson family members are the proud owners of beautiful quilts and table mats that she created.
Nancy had an outgoing personality; she laughed often, was very upbeat, and loved to tease. She was devoted to keeping in touch with family members and enjoyed being an overnight visitor.
Nancy did not marry, but she was an attentive sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great-aunt, and friend to many. She was pre-deceased by her parents, half-siblings Rose, William, Harry, Leon, Robin, Judith, and Smith, brother James, and a niece and two nephews.
She is survived by ten nephews, one niece, her brother Smith’s former wife Jeanette Folmar, and her brother Robin’s wife Elvina Patterson. She is also survived by five of the six Vietnamese men that she sponsored in the 1970s and dear friend Karen Forsberg.
The family thanks the staff at The Waterford at Wisconsin Rapids for caring for Nancy in her final years. Memorials may be sent to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, UNICEF, or Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners. A Celebration of Life will be held on May 24, 2026, at the Cooksville Community Center in Cooksville, Wisconsin, time TBD.
