Patricia J. Branigan's Obituary
We mourn the passing of Patricia Branigan—beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and Dame of Common Sense.
Patricia was born on May 20, 1935 in Mosinee, Wisconsin and passed away due to complications from pneumonia in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on Sunday, March 22, 2026. She was 90.
Patricia attended Mosinee High School, where she excelled in academics, athletics, and the performing arts. She then attended Marquette University and began her career as an X-ray technician after receiving her certification from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. It was while working in health care that her innate ability to connect with people, something that would become her trademark, blossomed.
Her life was full of blessings, most notably her romance with her husband Richard, which began as an international letter writing friendship when he was in the army and stationed in Japan. After the couple married in 1959, they lived in New York City. In 1962, they relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1968.
Oshkosh became the place where the couple would establish deep roots. Patricia was an active member of her bridge club, her antique club, the Parish Council of Catholic Women, and the Sociables Dance Club. She and Richard were expert dancers who stole the show every time they cut a rug. Patricia was a tireless volunteer at many organizations, including Lourdes Academy, where her children went to high school.
Patricia was always helping others. Her straightforward, practical insights and sage advice drew people to her and became a source of strength for those struggling with life’s twists and turns. It was common for her children to come home from school and find their mother at the kitchen table coaching someone through a dilemma with the aid of coffee and a homemade treat or two. She was an informal counselor and godsend to countless people of all ages.
Patricia’s Catholic faith was unshakeable, and she answered God’s call to teach religion classes to special needs students. On every Monday night for more than 40 years, her love, patience, wisdom, and grace provided a secure and welcoming environment for many who truly, and sometimes desperately, needed one. Thanks to her leadership, it was those students who led the processional at Saint Mary’s Christmas Eve Mass for years, reminding everyone present of the Lord’s love for all His children.
Without a doubt, Christmas was Patricia’s favorite time of year. Her decorations, many handmade, were legendary. Her Christmas cookies were Santa’s favorite (he told us so), and the spirit of Christmas was always alive in her home. All of this resulted in a media profile, which, although she downplayed it, thrilled Patricia.
Above all, Patricia’s vocation was her family. She supported their dreams, encouraged them to push themselves, held them when they faltered, right tracked them when needed, taught them about loyalty and personal responsibility, and constantly told them how proud she was of them.
During her time on earth, her love and support of her children and grandchildren helped to form them into the people they are today. So, too, will her intercession before our Lord on their behalf continue to bless and shape their lives.
Patricia is survived by her children Mary Shaun (John Casey) — Appleton, Thomas Joseph (Sally McFarlane) — Milwaukee, and Kerry Jean (Brian Mitchell) — Oshkosh; sister Kathy Krautkramer (Tom Krautkramer) — Antigo; grandchildren Michael Casey, Patrick Casey, Kathleen Branigan, Joseph Mitchell, Daniel Mitchell, Michael Branigan, and Mary Mitchell; niece Heidi Thompson, and great-niece Paige Thompson; nephew Edward Pratt, niece Joanne Pratt, their children and countless friends.
Patricia was preceded in death by her husband Richard Branigan, father Tom Davis, mother Nina Davis, and nephew Timothy Krautkramer; sister-in-law Ann (Branigan) Pratt, brother-in-law Donald Pratt, and nephew Steven Pratt.
The Branigan family is forever thankful to the teams at both the Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh and AseraCare Hospice.
Visitation will be held on Monday, March 30, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. at Most Blessed Sacrament Church (Saint Mary’s), 605 Merritt Avenue, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901, followed by a Requiem Mass.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the Special Religious Education Voice (SERV) program at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish. Checks may be made out to SERV/MBS and sent to: MBS – Saint Peter site, 435 High Avenue, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 54901.
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