Patricia “Pat” Ann Gartner

Patricia (Pat) Ann Gartner, 79, of Preston, Minn., passed away on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at U of MN Fairview Hospital in Wyoming, Minn. 

Pat was born in Minot, N. Dak., on August 10, 1942, to Donald and Margaret Reinarts.  She attended Bishop Ryan High School in Minot. After graduation she went on to nursing school at St. Mary’s in Rochester, Minn. She served as a registered nurse providing compassionate care to many patients at the Community Hospital in Spring Valley, Minn., and then at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., until her retirement.

She is survived by her three daughters and their families:  Elizabeth (Beth) and Dave Sweeley of Phoenix, Ariz., Bridget and Ryan Gilman of Chisago, Minn., and Lindsey and Chris Hannon of St. Michael, Minn.; six grandchildren: Taylor (Chelsea) Sweeley, Mackenzie (Breeana) Sweeley, Charlie and Claire Gilman and Adelyn and Henry Hannon; and two great-granddaughters, Olivia and Lux. Grandma P. loved her grandchildren so very much. They were the lights of her life and she enjoyed spending time with them and watching them grow.

She was often referred to as the matriarch of the family and is survived by her two brothers, Tom (Charla) and Mike (Theresa) Reinarts and her sister Susan (Bruce) Wick and their families.  

She was proceeded in death by her husband Mike, her parents, her brothers-in-law Lud and Murph Gartner, and sisters-in-law Judy Gartner, Phyllis Kokesh and Mimi Pooler. 

Pat was a social butterfly and enjoyed spending time and visiting with her many friends from high school, nursing school, Preston, and most recently her new friends she made at Meadows at Fairview Assisted Living where she lived her last year of life near her daughters in the Twin Cities.  She loved her visits to Arizona, playing bridge and bingo and especially enjoyed her manicures and was always up for shopping!  She was an amazing and resilient woman who never complained about any of her health challenges over the years.  

The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at St. Columban Catholic Church, Preston, Minn., with visitation one hour prior to the service.  A lunch will be served at the church after the service and she will be buried next to her beloved husband at Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.