Patricia Cheney, 91, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, died at Heritage Court Memory Care, Thursday, January 19, 2017 surrounded by family and the care of Northwest Wisconsin Home Care and Hospice.
Patricia was born on January 20, 1925, the daughter of Carl C. and Dorothy (Hancock) Frederick. She grew up in Fall River, Wisconsin, her first two years of higher education were acquired at Milwaukee Downer for Women, and she went on to receive a Teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1946. She married Donald Eugene Cheney on July 24, 1948 in Fall River. Her lifelong philanthropy to the Wisconsin University System included educational scholarships and funding research for schizophrenia. She also was a longtime member of PEO Chapter BE, and Christ Church Cathedral. She greatly enjoyed the outdoors and outdoor activity including walking, jogging, and cross-country skiing. Travel to various parts of the world defined much of her later life with her husband. Some of her other interests included participation in book club and listening to classical music. Patricia loved her Lower Long Lake cottage, swimming, cooking and entertaining friends and family.
She is survived by her sons, David “Willi” (Betsy Barnes) Cheney and Benjamin Cheney of Eau Claire; daughter, Lynne (David) Mills of Shell Lake; son-in-law, Matt Culberson of Utah; grandchildren, Anna Mills of Shell Lake, Melissa (Josh) Berreth of Montana, Abigail (Andrew) Layer, Megan (Mark) Spurlin, and Joseph Mills all of Minnesota; sister, Barbara Hansen of Georgia; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Cheney; daughter, Julianne; brother-in-law, David Hansen; and her parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 404, Great Neck, NY 11021, info@narsad.org; the YMCA, 700 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701; and The Wellness Shack, Inc., 505 Dewey Street, Suite 101, Eau Claire, WI 54701.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Christ Church Cathedral at 510 S. Farwell Street, Eau Claire with visitation beginning at 10:00 am at the church.