Pat Buesing, age 91, of Appleton, sadly passed away on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah following a fall in her home at Touchmark Senior Living in Appleton. She was born in Escanaba, MI on March 17, 1933, to the late Anton and Ethel (Heyrman) Cleereman.

Pat graduated from Appleton High School with the class of 1951. She attended Marquette University where she earned her Bachelor of Philosophy in 1955 with majors in secondary education, business administration and philosophy. In August of 1955, she was united in marriage to Dick Kools. The couple enjoyed 9 years together until his passing in 1966. She loved telling the story of meeting Ralph on the golf course at Riverview Country Club. They married in 1980. Ralph preceded her in death in 2018 after nearly 40 years of happy marriage.

Pat worked as a teacher for many years at Neenah High School, where she was also the Department Chair of Business Education. She built an innovative cooperative education program and placed numerous Business Ed students with local businesses. Pat's generous mentorship helped countless young people prepare for the workforce as well as further their education. She was recognized with the prestigious District High School Teacher of the Year Award for the 1989-1990 school year.

Following her retirement in 1990, Pat and Ralph split their time between Appleton and Naples Florida. They golfed (all around the US), played tennis and were very competitive bridge players in both homes. She was a member of Riverview Country Club from 1977 until it ceased to exist in 2011. She was a dedicated volunteer at Leaven for 24 years where she was well known for her generosity, kindness and tasty bran date nut bread. She was honored with the Leaven volunteer of the year award in 2013. She was a member of the Appleton chapter of P.E.O. International, working in several roles within the organization to empower women. She enjoyed reading, knitting (with many comforters and Christmas stockings gifted to children, grandchildren and great grandchildren), dominos, cribbage, hearts, traveling with Ralph and her daily Manhattan. Playing bridge with her many friends was her passion.

Pat will be missed by her two sons: Peter (Susan) Kools, Sea Ranch, CA and Mark (Carrie) Kools, Appleton; 3 grandchildren: Peter and Susan's daughter Martha (J) Beresheim-Kools, and Mark and Carrie's sons Ryan (Danielle) Kools, and Ben Kools.

With the blended family she and Ralph created, she will also be missed by Ralph's children:

Natalie Sunde, Boerne, TX and her children Stephanie (Jason) Younts and Scott (Rodney Britton) Sunde, and Robert (Karen) Buesing, Glen Allen, VA and their children Robert (Jessica) Buesing, Juliet (Adam) Clark, and Baylen Buesing.

She is further survived by many beloved great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Pat touched the lives of many with her warm smile and infectious laugh and will be missed by all.

A memorial service will take place at 10:30 am on Tuesday, July 2, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 404 W. Lawrence St. Appleton. Friends may visit at the church on Tuesday from 9:00 am until 10:15 am. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery. The service will be live streamed for remote viewing.

A live stream of Pat's service can be viewed by clicking the following link: https://youtube.com/live/MTmH_PtO3Zs?feature=share

A donation to Leaven (https://leavenfoxcities.org/) or St. Joseph's Catholic Church (https://www.saintjosephparish.org/) is welcome.