Tomah Journal - Obituaries

Patricia A. Hutchinson, Donald J. Snippen

Patricia A. Hutchinson

Patricia A. Hutchinson, 75, of Sparta, died quietly Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, at the Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta.

Memorial services will be Friday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Sparta, with Rev. David Carlson officiating. A lunch will follow.

Pat is survived by her husband, Julian, Sparta, and children, Teresa (Ron) Jessie, Sparta; John (Deanna) Hutchinson, Sparta; David (Rebecca) Hutchinson, Hudson; and Maria Hutchinson, Appleton. She has six grandchildren, Aaron and Jeremy, Appleton; John Jr., Madison; Tyler and Jake, Sparta; Ian and Grace, Hudson; and one greatgrandchild, Geordan, Rochester, MN.

Pat was born on Sept. 22, 1932, in Frankfort, Ind. She studied art and graduated from high school in 1951.

In the mid-1950s, Pat worked as a commercial artist at Loeb’s Department Store in Lafayette, Ind. On Sept. 9, 1956, she married Julian Hutchinson at Ball Hill Methodist Church, a small country church located near Cutler, Ind. Last year Pat and “Hutch” celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Since their arrival in Sparta in the fall of 1958, Pat was active in the Sparta United Methodist Church. In the early years she served as a Sunday School teacher and Cub Scout Den Mother. Until recently she was a member of the Trustees, SUMMIT Spirits (theater), United Methodist Women, Dawn Circle and the Mission, Outreach and Evangelism committees.

Pat was a self-taught artist, who specialized in charcoal and oil portraits, porcelain painting, and the restoration of antique lamps. She established her own home art studio during the early 1970s, and taught rosemaling as a night course for UW-La Crosse for over 10 years.

In addition to these artistic endeavors, Pat will also be remembered for her theater involvement, which spanned 30 years. She contributed to several local theater groups as director, set designer, and actress.

She was a member of the Area Community Theater (ACT) at Fort McCoy from 1976 to 1992, and was also instrumental in the ACT’s “Summer Recruit Troupe” (SRT) productions.

In 1999 Pat and her husband became involved with the organization and implementation of SUMMIT Spirits, the theater arm of the Sparta United Methodist Church. SUMMIT Spirits has since presented musicals, mysteries, dramas, short plays, skits and conducted workshops.

Additionally, she produced and directed several Sparta High School productions, developed her own theater group, “PH and Company,” judged 4-H drama contests, performed skits at the Sparta Library Summer Youth Program, and conducted theater workshops for the Sparta Schools’ Gifted and Talented Program.

Pat was also an authority on theater lighting, set construction, make-up, and costuming n expertise learned by attending statewide workshops and many years of on-the-job training. She always said directing a play was like painting on canvas, except the figures were movable, with individual characters. Her shows were always perfectly color coordinated with sets, costumes, furnishings and lights performing as a unit.

Given Pat’s vast involvement in and her love of live theater, the family is considering the development of an appropriate scholarship as her memorial.

Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.

The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

Donald J. Snippen

Donald J. Snippen, 84, passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, at his home in Washburn, WI, where his wife, children, special nurses and aides from the hospice program had cared for him throughout his short illness.

Don was born Aug. 15, 1923, in Beloit, WI. After his mother died when he was 4 years old, he was separated from his sister, raised by his grandfather and later an aunt and uncle. It would only be after he was married and raising his own children that he would finally experience the close ties of a family.

He married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Kastens, in Warrens, WI, on Dec. 4, 1943, after he enlisted in the Army. He served for three years as an anti-tank gunner during World War II and was in three major battles before being badly wounded in France. He returned as a civilian after his recuperation in Seattle. A few years later, with the aid of a GI loan, farm produce from Jeanne’s folks and great determination, he graduated with a BA degree from WSU-River Falls.

With diploma in hand and his sixth child born two weeks later, he moved his family to Birnamwood, WI, where he taught agriculture at BHS. Two years later they moved to Washburn, where he took a job as the ag teacher at Ondossagon High School in Ashland. Don was very involved with his students, the FFA program there and founded the Ondossagan Conservation Club dedicated to preserving natural resources and enhancing public parks throughout the community. He organized an annual senior students fishing trip to Canada in recognition of their hard work and dedicated efforts. He also taught Industrial Arts and Drivers Education during his 22 years at Ondossagon.

In addition to a love of teaching, Don enjoyed golf, fishing, snowmobiling, his flower garden, camping and entertaining friends at backyard BBQs. Refurbishing the “Yvonne T” for cruising Lake Superior was an especially enjoyable accomplishment for him. Family reunions were also an important part of his life, and the Snippen family gathered together often.

Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jeanne in 1987 and a son Dennis in 2002. Those left to mourn his passing but rejoice in his peace are his wife Fran (Bizub), who he married on Sept. 30, 1997; his loving sister, Jean Case of Tomah; his four sons: Duane (Danny), Elk River, MN; David (Myra), Bloomer, WI; Robert (Diana), Ramsey, MN; Randy (Marge), Wausau; and his four daughters: Patty (Gary Gilles), Stacy, MN; Kathy (Bob Marincel), Iron River, WI; Diane (Greg Persing), Kansas City, KS, and Babs (Paul Ratliff), Ashland, WI; 26 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and eight step-children.

A memorial visitation was held at the Bratley Funeral Home in Washburn on Saturday, Dec. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. Interment with a veteran’s honor will be in Warrens, WI. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any memorials be given to Ashland Regional Hospice or the VFW.