Patricia "Pat" Buresh

Patricia “Pat” Buresh (Bielinski) of Denmark, WI passed away peacefully on March 22, 2025, at Oak Park Place in Green Bay, WI at the beautiful age of 82. With her collecting and nurturing work complete, she’s off to her next great adventure.

Pat was born to Walter and Clara (Sladke) Bielinski on February 24,1943.

After graduating with the Denmark High School Class of 1961 Pat explored a few different jobs before finding her place in the family business, and soon after as a wife and mother to a growing family. She worked as the bookkeeper for Bielinski Excavating. Being in the business with family kept Pat close to her brothers Milton and Jim. They meant the world to her as business partners and siblings.

Pat’s grandest adventure began on August 21, 1965, when she married the love of her life, Bernard (Bernie) Buresh at All Saints Church in Denmark, where she was a lifelong member. As their family grew, so did their desire to find open space. They moved to their forever home in the country on Maribel Road in 1969 with neighbors who became priceless friends throughout the years. Mom loved the fact that it was a minister's house prior to her arrival and then for it being known as the house with the Smiley Barn.

Over their 58 years of marriage, they carried on their families’ excavating and farming legacies, and built a life that included three spirited children, ownership in Bielinski Excavating, and a hobby farm with a unique menagerie of animals, inside and out. With Bernie busy managing the animal kingdom outside, the kingdom inside was all Pat’s. Dogs, cats, birds, and guinea pigs all were a part of Pat’s pet collection.

She was a mother to all and a beloved second Mom to many. She wanted everything and everyone around her to grow and thrive. Memories of her nurturing animals abound, from picking up a hit bird on the road to nurture it back to life to hand feeding piglets in the basement and countless lambs and calves in the barn. She also nurtured babies and children as an in-house sitter. Her endless desire to take care of others made leaving her home more difficult, but necessary, and under direct orders from Bernie the day he left the house 18 months earlier.

Pat adored connecting with people. She religiously attended her high school reunions and was happiest when people stopped by the house for a visit, including those she knew as well as complete strangers (who quickly became friends) and her grandchildren.

No matter the day, the time, the season or the holiday, there was always a steady stream of people coming and going. It was completely normal for another visitor to stop as one was leaving. Some were planned visits, but most were random, “pop ins” to catch up and catch (a cold) one. Pat always made sure the fridge was stocked with soda and beer, including while she was at Oak Park.

Mom was never afraid of hard work and to put the time in but always in a way that allowed her to be there when we got home from school and with supper ready when Dad got home from work. She was a day care provider by day, a bookkeeper by night, a housecleaner at times at Danish Villa on the weekend and a wife and mom 24/7/365. Until we moved out, her job was us and raising good, decent people. She succeeded, even though she had to put in overtime during Bill’s high school years.

Sharing moments and places together was important to Pat. She was always ready to pack the coolers (with Konop’s sausage and cheese, and maybe a little beer and a bottle of Crown Royal), board the bus and hit the road to see something new. And she always wanted to do it with those she enjoyed and loved the most. The big Greyhound bus pulling out of the driveway on Maribel Road was a well-known sight for years. She visited all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska was her favorite, for the scenery, the wildlife, and the chance to connect with the neighbor boy Josh, whom always had a special place in her heart.

She also enjoyed traveling with her children and grandchildren. We have priceless memories of Matthew getting Grandma into the lazy river tube in Mexico, Parasailing Pat (yes, she did!), swimming with the dolphins, and smuggling cheese, sausage and a knife across the border (somehow, she escaped the luggage sniffing dogs at the airport!) and so many more.

Pat collected experiences; some of the best and tastiest came from the kitchen. Her chocolate doughnuts, Kringle, kolaches, sauerkraut cookies and bologna sandwiches were legendary (tip: you need to mix the mayo and mustard together). Even better were the moments when others joined in on the making, including making sauerkraut in the basement crocs with Donny & Dorothy Peterson, strawberry jam and potato mushroom soup with Dad (he picked, and she prepared). Son Bill and Candy are taking on the kraut making in honor of Mom.

The best part of Pat as a collector was that each person, place or adventure also needed to be remembered with a collectible item, including wind chimes, shot glasses (in custom cases bordering the kitchen), magnets, Snow baby figurines, lawn ornaments, Dachshund statues, freezers, cookie sheets, and a stash of $1 bills with serial numbers starting with a “B” for “Buresh.” Pat was the queen of “don’t throw that away, I might need it someday”, collecting Parkay butter containers for serving chicken booyah and piles of scrap material, ready for any clothing emergency.

Christmas was Mom’s favorite time of the year. She would spend a week pulling out every decoration, and she had a lot because she would always add and never subtract. Putting up Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving turned into a tradition. Every holiday included

changing out the curtains and tablecloths. Mom loved to make Christmas huge, with the more presents and paper flying around the better for the grandchildren.

Survivors include three children, Cathy (Ken “Shorter”) Boucher, Denmark; Terri (Jeff) Schilling, Delafield; and Bill (Candy) Buresh, Denmark; six grandchildren, Matthew and Julia Schilling; Katelyn, Jacqueline, Brooklynn and Samantha Buresh and one great granddaughter, Everly Buresh.Additionally, she is survived by her brother, Jim (MaryJo) Bielinski; and sisters- and brothers-in-law, Dorothy Blazei; Jim Buresh (Laura); Bob Buresh (special friend Kaye); Joe Buresh (Mona); Frank Buresh (Mary); numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, lifelong friends and the coffee clutch crew at Basil’s II and the company at Suster’s.She was proceeded in death by her husband, Bernard (Bernie); her parents, Walter and Clara Bielinski; father and mother-in-law, John and Catherine Buresh; brother, Milton Bielinski; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Gail Bielinski, Kathy Buresh, Ray Blazei and Elwin (Woody) Buresh; nephews Richard Buresh, Dale Blazei, Daniel Buresh and godson Andrew Buresh.Family and friends may call on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at All Saints Catholic Church in Denmark, WI with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:30 a.m. with Fr. Xavier Amirtham presiding. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery in Denmark, WI. In lieu of floral expression please donate to the Wisconsin Humane Society in Pat’s name.

How blessed we are that Pat found us, collected us and nourished us over all her years. Without her, we would not have the experiences, the adventures, the laughter and the love of being in her universe. What a gift.