Patricia Mae (Kelley) Langteau,94, of French Island, passed away on Friday, March 6, 2026, at her home.

She was born on May 4, 1931, to Mae (Jagemann) and James Kelley in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where she was raised. There she also met the love of her life, Palmer Joseph Langteau, whom she married on October 17, 1949, in the Army Chapel in Fort Riley, Kansas, where Palmer was in basic training. They raised nine children together in Milwaukee, before eventually retiring to Iron Mountain/Kingsford MI, where Palmer passed away in 2008.

In 2009, Patricia moved to French Island to live a few doors down from her son, David (and wife, Terry) Langteau, who served as her faithful, daily caregivers since that time, enabling Patricia to live in her home to the end. Further support was provided regularly by her daughters Paula (and husband, Leo Hodlofski), Lily (and husband, Mike Pearson), and Linda (and husband, Carlos Mont), as well as her grandchildren, Evie (and Chris) Harrison, Kristina Langteau, and John (and Kathy) Langteau. She also was grateful for her wonderful extended family, including Bethea and Cody Teslow, and Sheila and Haley Tebo.

Special thanks to BrightStar Care (esp. Alice, who developed a special bond with Pat), Gundersen Hospice, The Aging and Disability Resource Center of La Crosse County and to Olivet Lutheran Church for their wonderful caring staff and volunteers, respectively providing nursing care, bringing daily senior meal service, offering communion/visitation and extending overall support.

Patricia loved the Lord, and her faith guided her life. She listened daily to messages by Pastor Charles Stanley and read Our Daily Bread. Her heart’s desire was for all to know the Lord. She was a blessing to all who knew and loved her, and she prayed for everyone daily. She showed her love in big and small ways to all she came in contact with, including preparing bags of chocolates to give to everyone who came to her door, from mail carriers to invited guests. With the assistance of Jane Hoolihan (a beloved
volunteer at ADRC), Patricia’s generosity spread to providing bags of chocolates for all those on the La Crosse Senior Meals delivery route, an ongoing labor of love which became fondly known as “The Patricia Project.”

Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Palmer (1928-2008); son, Joseph (1954-1957) and daughter, Joanne (1957-2012), and followed closely in death by her daughter, Madelyn (1952-2026), who passed the following day. She is survived by six of her nine children: Laura, David, Linda, James, Lily, and Paula, as well as the families of all her children, including numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren; her niece, Chris Kelley; and a community of loving friends and neighbors.

No funeral will be held, but memorial services (celebrations of life) to be planned for some time in the future. Pat never cared for cut flowers as they reminded her of loss. Thus, in lieu of flowers, she wished to encourage people to contribute to the charity of their choice, to care for the living.

Condolences may be made to the family at CouleeCremation.com.