Patricia “Pat” C. Schwope, age 84, of Woodbury and formerly of Hastings, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Oct. 11, 2024 in St. Paul.
Born Sept. 16, 1940, to Roy C. and Victoria Moberg in St. Paul, Pat was an only child. She attended Longfellow Grade School and Central High School, both in St. Paul. At Central, she was active on the school Newspaper, Yearbook, and in Junior Achievement, and also worked at the Emporium and Woolworth’s in downtown St. Paul.
While attending the U of M, Pat met and married Morris Gildemeister in 1962. They moved to Kentucky, where son Christopher was born. They moved to Hastings in 1967, where daughter Melissa was born.
In Hastings, Pat was both a dedicated homemaker and a volunteer extraordinaire. As secretary at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church, “room mother” for both children at Pinecrest Elementary, school PTA, election judge, Meals on Wheels, Concert Association, Cable Commission, St. John’s (WELS) Women’s Circle, and Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, Pat served not only her family, but the entire community.
She and Morris divorced in the early 1990’s. Pat attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and earned a degree in Journalism. Thereafter, she worked in the commercial loan department of Midway National Bank in St. Paul.
In 1998, Pat married Gene Schwope and moved to Woodbury. She applied her Journalism skills to the St. Paul Camera Club, the Twin Cities Area Council of Camera Clubs, and the North Central Camera Club Council, where she served as Newsletter Editor, Secretary, President, and in many other roles. She also participated in a project at St. James Lutheran Church, West St. Paul, where she photographed the stained glass windows and architecture of St. James, along with many church events like Confirmation classes and Vacation Bible School.
Remembered for her wit and sense of humor, Pat was always in the thick of things, whether in the community or in her children’s lives. She was tremendously supportive of her children, attending every event in which they were involved. Pat carried this dedication on until the end of her life, cherishing time with her grandkids and cheering them on in all their activities.
Pat is survived by husband Gene Schwope, of Woodbury; son Christopher Gildemeister (Carma) of Hastings; daughter Melissa Uzelac (Mike) of Brooklyn Park; step-daughter Laura Capistrant (Josh) of St. Paul; grandchildren Joseph, Benjamin, Isaac, and Theo; and ex-husband Morris Gildemeister of Hastings.
A memorial service was held Oct. 18 at St. James Lutheran Church, West St. Paul. Memorials preferred to the Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust St., Hudson WI 54016. Arrangements were handled by Johnson-Peterson Funeral Home.
