Obituary of Patsy Dorothy Liljeblad

Patsy Dorothy Liljeblad was born a Lucky 7, on 7/17/1927. Patsy grew up during the Great Depression and World War II-she was one of the last of the Greatest Generation. Her ability to embrace challenges, persevere through adversity, and reinvent herself repeatedly, reflect the best qualities of that generation. Born in a Milwaukee maternity hospital and adopted by Paul and Lillian Stengl, Patsy was raised in Milwaukee and graduated from South Side High, where she met Guy Liljeblad, her beloved husband of 54 years. Together, they enjoyed an adventurous life that included selling stainless steel cookware, personally building their family home from scratch, tent camping with infants, Boy and Girl Scouting, boating, snowmobiling, flying private planes around the country, entertaining their many friends and business associates (Pat was a great cook and Queen of the Dinner Party), and raising their family of 4 obstreperous children: Gyneth (Mike) Slygh, Kris (Lana), Frank, and Kari Liljeblad. As though those pursuits were not enough, Patsy finished her teaching degree in 1966 and was immediately hired to teach at Hermantown Elementary, a career she loved for 20+ years. Her students and colleagues were dear to her and she threw her heart and soul into working with them. Even while teaching, Pat found time to learn belly dancing with her friends, make imaginative costumes for every holiday and event, raise flower and vegetable gardens, sew clothes for the family, perm her mother-in-law’s hair, and keep an immaculate house. 

Retirement brought the challenge of Guy’s Parkinson’s disease, but didn’t slow Patsy down. Her creative talents led her to become an expert water color artist. Her work was featured at numbers of Duluth institutions and art shows. She sang (a fine alto) with Sweet Adelines, read the news for Lighthouse for the Blind, entertained grandchildren, read extensively, joined University for Seniors, then created a new life for herself in Sun City, AZ after Guy died in 2001. Patsy immersed herself in a new home, a new desert lifestyle, in art and writing classes, and in the fun and support of a group of close friends, which she enjoyed until her group “aged out,” and she was 90, whereupon she decided a move back to Duluth suited her best.

Patsy lived happily at Primrose/Duluth Heights Lodge, through COVID-with the distraction of her fellow artist and dear friend Ray Naddy-until her death on February 8, 2024, at the age of 96. Her family wishes to thank the staff at Duluth Heights Lodge for their wonderful attention to Patsy in her last months and to St. Croix Hospice for their invaluable and sensitive assistance. Patsy is survived by her sister Carole Nawrocki; by her children Gyneth, Frank, and Kari; by her grandchildren Erin (Mark) Abrahamson and her daughters Elina, Robin, and Mallory; Tara (Tracy) Shearer and her daughters Gabriella and Rachel; Natasha (Matt) Kim and her daughters Ansley and Ava; John (Shannon) Liljeblad, and Anna Liljeblad. She was preceded in death by her beloveds-husband Guy and son Kris.

All are invited to a Celebration of Patsy’s Life on Saturday, April 27 at The Cremation Society of MN, Duluth. Visitation is at 2, service at 3 pm. Family and friends are invited to gather, and tell flattering stories about Patsy, at the home of Kris and Lana  Liljeblad following the service.