Patricia "Patty" A. Dreisbach

Patricia “Patty” Dreisbach, 65, passed away on June 12, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, creativity, and unwavering love for others.

She moved through life with an open heart. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcome, understood, and cared for. She gave freely of herself, offering kindness without expectations and finding joy in helping those around her. Whether through her work as an event planner, realtor, artist, and special education guide, or through the countless acts of generosity that defined her days, she made the world a gentler place.

An artist at heart, she found beauty everywhere. She expressed herself through clay sculpture, painting, and writing, and in the life she created for those she loved. She was at-home with paint-stained hands and dirt beneath her fingernails. She loved gardening, cooking, and camping beneath the stars. Nature restored her spirit, and she carried its wonder with her wherever she went.

Patty had the soul of a Disney princess and the spirit of a warrior. She loved animals deeply and possessed a gentleness that drew them to her. To know her, was to know someone who could appreciate both the extraordinary and the ordinary: the beauty of a blooming rose, the comfort of a shared meal, the giggles around a campfire, and the joy of being surrounded by the people she loved.

She also believed deeply in community. One of the many ways she gave back was by organizing a moped poker run to benefit SAILS Charter School in Sparta, bringing people together in support of teens and education. For her, helping others was never an obligation; it was a reflection of who she was.

Above all else, Patty’s greatest love was her family. She is survived by her husband, John Dreisbach; her daughters, Heather Thomas and Rae Dreisbach; her son-in-law, Chris Thomas; and her beloved grandson, Ian Thomas. She is preceded in death by her mother, Joanne Clark, and Larry Kelly, as well as many extended family members and dear friends who were blessed by her presence.

Though her absence leaves an immeasurable ache, those who loved her carry forward the gifts she gave so effortlessly: compassion, creativity, resilience, and the reminder to find beauty in the everyday. Her life was a testament to the ways we shape one another through kindness, and her memory will continue to bloom in the hearts of all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Club 16 in Sparta. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Patty by donating to the AS/AP Animal Shelter in Sparta, AS/AP Animal Shelter, PO Box 101, Sparta, WI 54656, (608)487-7305. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com

Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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