Patricia Ann Hale

Mankato Mortuary 1001 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 388-2202 Patricia Ann Hale, age 74, of Mankato, died on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Rev. Andy Olsem officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Mankato Mortuary. Burial will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Durand, Illinois. Patricia Ann Hale was born on Independence Day, July 4, 1940 in Freeport, Illinois to - and Kathryn (Long) Hale. Growing up in Apple River, Illinois, Pat graduated from Warren High School in 1958. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (then known as Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology) and earned her bachelor's degree in 1962. After that she went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned her master's degree in Physical Education. She started her first teaching job at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. After a few years she moved closer to home and taught at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin. In 1973 she found her way to Mankato, Minnesota, where she taught at Minnesota State University-Mankato until her retirement in 2005. While at MSU, Pat coached the first MSU softball team in 1974-1980, compiling a record of 71-50-3. She also coached the cross country team for a number of years. She taught many different courses but particularly enjoyed teaching self-defense. In addition to teaching her self-defense classes, she was a Victim Assistance volunteer in Mankato for a number of years. In her younger years she spent her free time playing softball, volleyball, and bowling. She has always enjoyed reading and watching TV. In more recent times she loved going to the River Hills Mall for lunch, visiting with friends, and walking the mall. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato and loved retelling the jokes the priest told at mass. Pat is survived by her brother, Joel (Karen) and their three children, Laura, Maryellen, and Nick; brother, Jim (Linda) and their three children, Ben, Jess, and Kim. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Mary Ann Hawbaker.