Pat Fuchsteiner

Pat Fuchsteiner, 61, of La Crosse died at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

She was born in La Crosse on Jan. 14, 1948, to Gene and Jayne (Wanner) Harding. Pat graduated from Aquinas High School in 1966. She married Thomas Fuchsteiner at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on June 18, 1966.

She worked in the family business as a cosmetologist for 30 years with her dear friend Jan Saunders. Pat was a very loving and beautiful person inside and out. She made friends with everyone she met. Pat lived life to the fullest, loving to travel, meet new people and lay on the beach. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, auntie and friend, and we know that mom is "basking in eternal sunshine."

She is survived by two daughters, Julie (Timothy) Wichelt of La Crosse and Kristine (John) Sanchez of Onalaska; a son, James (Pamela) Fuchsteiner of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; her ex-husband, Tom of La Crosse; a sister, Renne (Fred) Wolf of La Crosse; a brother, Jim (Kay) Harding of La Crosse; grandchildren, Megan and Molly Wichelt and Thomas and Emily Sanchez; nieces, Shelly Wolf Burkhardt, Susan Mahlum, Sally Wolf, Debra Menke, Kelli Gehweiler and Kirsten Bryhn; nephew, Mark Harding; stepgrandfather, Joseph Morley; and a special friend, Tom Meronek.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father; and grandmother, Pearl (Harding) Morley.

Memorials are requested for Gundersen Lutheran Lung Cancer Research