Patricia Ranchel

Patricia Ranchel has left us all reeling with her quick passing. After a brief struggle with pancreatic cancer, Pat died on April 24, 2015, at age 74.

If you knew her, you knew that Pat was generally regarded as a sweet person. This was a huge con: under that sweet veneer was subversive humor, a raucous laugh and a competitive spirit. She had a wanderlust that kept her moving all her life, from Wisconsin to Oregon, Washington, and finally to Fountain Hills. Her husband and kids followed her wherever she went. She was that kind of gal.

She was born and raised in Wisconsin, and there she started working, met and married her husband, Joe, and had two children. She didn't want to stay there forever though. She started loading Joe and the kids in the car and traveling west - several times a year.

While visiting Oregon she fell in love with its beauty, bought a house and moved the family out within three weeks. Ten years later a job opportunity took her to the state of Washington where she found her favorite view: the Columbia rolling down into Oregon.

After retirement she decided she was sick of the Northwest rain and started exploring the Southwest, eventually buying a winter home in Fountain Hills. There she got sunshine and almost as many bridge groups as she could handle.

She had treasured friends at each stop, and valued her time with all of them. Visits from Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington friends and family; outings to the McKenzie with the girls; and Curves, coffee and bridge were high on her list of favorite things; and of course Dancing with the Stars.

Joe predeceased her by five months. She is survived and sorely missed by her children, Nancy and Gil, her grandchildren and her nephews. We feel sorely cheated.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of the Valley, who saved us at the end. A reception at her home will be held on Friday, May 1, at 1 p.m. Come hungry and stay as long as you like.