Patricia "Trish" L. Hatch

Patricia L. Hatch, 76, from Menasha, WI  passed into God's hands after succumbing to a lengthy illness on 6/20/2023.

Originally from Central City, IA, Trish met the love of her life, Doug Hatch, at Simpson College where she was a cheerleader, and they were married on 1/28/1968. They subsequently moved to Minnesota and then Wisconsin, living in Menasha since 1983. They were married for 55 wonderful years. Doug knew she was “The One” when she uncomplainingly hauled gear through 19 portages in the Boundary Water Canoe Area on their first vacation together.

Trish is survived by her husband, Douglas Hatch, daughter Danel (Frank) Burchby (Appleton) and son, Nathan (Amy) Hatch (Sheboygan) as well as grandchildren, Patrick, Isaac, Derek, Sierra, Melissa, Jameson, Anthony, Sophia, and Jack. Trish is also survived by her sister, Nancy Brashears (Los Angeles, CA), and Steven (Terry) Brashears (Storm Lake, IA) and their families. Trish has many other cousins and nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. Trish grew up as Patty, which is what her many family and childhood friends call her. During her college years, she took on the nickname Trish, which is what her post-college friends know her by.

Trish was preceded in death by her brother, Jeffery Brashears, and her parents, LeRoy and Dorothy Brashears, as well as her dear friend Mary Taylor.

Trish finished her social work degree in 1987, graduating from UW-Green Bay, all the while parenting her children. She went on to serve as a counselor and advocate for the underserved and incarcerated as a Social Worker with Volunteers in Offender Services in Outagamie County, making a difference in countless lives.

She was active in volunteering in her church, teaching Sunday School, leading the traveling tea party for homebound congregants, and attending a mission trip. Trish also volunteered her time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate supporting at-risk children in the foster care system.

Trish adored and doted on her children and all her grandchildren, from sewing Halloween costumes, attending every concert, sporting event, and recital, planning birthday parties, to being band mom and chaperoning field trips. Trish babysat her grandchildren countless times creating memories for a lifetime.

Family vacations were a priority for Trish as she wanted her children to see the country. Trish and Doug were world travelers, visiting 31 countries; she especially loved Nepal and Africa. She was a tennis aficionado, a Packer fan, scrapbooker, dancer, and rummage sale picker. Trish had an outdoor spirit and wanderlust spending time hiking, climbing, deep wilderness camping, canoeing, and kayaking. On their sailboat, Trish was the first mate and crew for many excursions and races.

The 60s sisters, Trish and Nan, reached for fame when they tried out for The Amazing Race when they were in their sixties, making a video of all of their navigating talents. The duo again tested their outdoor skills when they participated in a local Survivor contest event, making a shelter, a fire, and participating in physical challenges as a team during an overnight outside.

For many years, Trish and Doug hosted family reunions full of high-volume fun, laughs, and pranks.

Indoors, you could find Trish writing funny limericks with Mary, Danel, and Nancy, making her own greeting cards, or playing games with her FUN Group of close girlfriends or family.

One of Doug’s most humorous memories was on April 1, 1975, Trish woke him up in the middle of the night letting him know she was in labor with their son.  Doug, not going to fall for an obvious April Fool’s joke, laughed and tried to go back to sleep.  Hours later, their son was born, luckily at the hospital.

Trish's many family and friends will miss her terribly.

The family would like to thank Oak Park Place Memory Care staff, AsceraCare Hospice, and all her care team, family and friends that helped make her last years comfortable and happy.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on June 29, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church, 325 E. Franklin, Appleton, WI. 

Visitation will be at Wichmann Funeral Home at 1592 S. Oneida St., Menasha from 6:00- 8:00p.m. on Wednesday, June 28 and at the church from 9:00-10:00am on Thursday, June 29th prior to the service. 

For online condolences, please visit https://www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/patricia-hatch.

Contributions and gifts can be directed to the Fox Valley Memory Project and American Parkinson's Disease Association, Wisconsin Chapter. Box 14381, Madison, WI 53709.