Rev. Patricia L. Hawley - Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel

Rev. Patricia L. Hawley

October 30, 1940 - April 8, 2023


Rev. Patricia L. Hawley, age 82, of Burnsville, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2023. Preceded in death by her husband, Carl Wolander, she is survived by her daughters, Kristin Trecker, Lynn Wolander and Julie Kline; grandchildren, Claire, Lauren, Eleanor and Brett Blascziek; brother, David Hawley and many other loving family members and friends.
"Pastor Pat" attended St. Olaf College, the University of Minnesota and Luther Northwestern Seminary. She was one of the first 10 women ordained in the Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She served as a pastor at House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Richfield, Richfield Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and was a visiting pastor at Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina.

Memorials to the charity of donor's choice.





8 Comments

  1. Ruth Lindberg says:

    She will be missed. She did so much for my family during my Father’s illness.

  2. Jagadeesh Dasari says:

    Dear Kristin,

    Our thoughts are with you and the entire family. Very glad to hear she carried God’s work as a pastor in her entire life. She would have positively impacted many more families apart from yours. May her soul rest in peace in God’s divine presence.

    Regards
    Jagadeesh & Kavitha

  3. Tanya (Rouleau) Howard says:

    Condolences to Pastor Hawleys family. She was my Pastor for as long as I could remember as a kid. She was such a sweet lady. She was the Pastor when I was confirmed.

    Prayers and Condelences to her family.

  4. Doug Frahm says:

    To the Family,

    I wanted to let you know how much of an impact Pastor Hawley had on my life, personally and spiritually! I’m so sorry for your loss but know she’s in a great place and she will always be watching over all of us.

  5. Mary Janz says:

    Lynn, Kris, Julie. My condolences to you as you say goodbye for now I can’t begin to express how much your mom influenced me — from pastor to mentor to friend to traveling partner to gracious host in your home. I am retired and home bound In Racine and am with you in spirit!

  6. Pastor Pat was an extra ordinary woman, pastor and a great friend. She had a heart for our ministry in Bethlehem. We thank the Lord for her life, ministry, and for her family. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to her daughters and the entire family. We trust that she is now in a better place.

  7. Sonya Anderson-Decker says:

    Sending love and condolences to Pastor Pat’s family & loved ones. As Doug wrote above in his message, Pastor Hawley had such an important influence on my life personally and spiritually. She was inspirational in so many ways and particularly in my faith development journey. Her sermons and perspectives helped me to be able to have stronger beliefs and far less struggle with all of the questions that arise. She was a trailblazer who changed an enormous amount of lives for the better. Even though I have not heard her say this in years, I still hear her voice in my mind every day, joyfully announcing “This is the day that the Lord has made!” with our grateful response of “Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I know I will hear that for the rest of my years and it is truly a lasting gift! Thank you dear Pastor Pat, and thanks to her family for sharing her with all of us.

    • Lisa Lund says:

      When I was a teenager, Pastor Pat was the first woman I had ever encountered who chose a “nontraditional” career path. Her kindness, strength, and fortitude as a trailblazer helped give me the courage to follow my own path.
      Thank you, Pastor Pat.

      Lisa Lund M.D.

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