Patricia Ann Klossner

Patricia Ann Klossner passed away at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 after suffering a stroke one day before her 81st birthday. Her daughter Vicki was by her side and son Andrew, unable to be present, was on the phone. Patti was born in Bethany, Missouri, on November 12, 1930 and moved with her mother Alice Flint Henderson to California at age five. When Alice met her second husband, Lyndley W. Potts, they moved to Santa Barbara. Patti Potts attended Santa Barbara High School and graduated in 1948 as a Seal Bearer. Patti went on to college at the University of Oregon, Eugene with a few close high school friends and pledged Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After two years in Eugene, Patti entered the University of Oregon Medical School's nursing program in Portland, where she met her husband, Wendell, a medical student, on a blind date. Patti knew she had found the love of her life. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education on June 13, 1954 and engaged to be married to Wendell D. Klossner, who was in his Internship at Minneapolis General Hospital, she moved back to Santa Barbara. Wendell and Patti were married in a Christmas wedding on December 26,1954. A brief honeymoon in Palm Springs was followed by a move back to the cold winter in Minneapolis, where Patti worked in the hospital as an RN. They spent two years in the Air Force, followed by her husband's Residency in Internal Medicine at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and Stanford Hospital in San Francisco. During these years, Patti and Wendell were blessed with two children. Andrew James was born April 26, 1955 at Castle Air Force Base in Merced. Victoria Ann was born August 10, 1958 in San Francisco. The family returned to Santa Barbara where Wendell entered private practice in Montecito. Patti was active in the Women's Auxiliary to the California Medical Association since 1959 and served as President of the Santa Barbara Chapter from 1974-1975. She worked on fund raising for the Heart Association and United Fund and modeled in annual fund-raising fashion shows for the Cancer Society when her children were young. She served as room mother, PTA vice president, auxiliary advisor to the Future Nurses Club at SBHS and was a member of the Channel City Women's Forum, Republican Women's Club and Santa Barbara Fashion Guild. Patti and Wendell shared many wonderful years as members of Los Fiesteros Dance Club and made life-long friends doing what they loved, dancing and planning parties. Some of Patti's success stories revolve around the wonderful themed dinner dance parties that she would create with her committee for the Medical Society and for Los Fiesteros Dance Club. The best memories that her daughter has are the yearly camping trips to the Southwest area and winter skiing vacations to many wonderful resorts with best friends Chuck and Claire Schwan and their children Brad, Bart and Carrie. Patti and Claire would plan the most wonderful adventures and they grew close during these years. Patti is survived by her daughter Vicki (husband Pete) and son Andrew, six grandchildren, Ryan, Heather and Nicholas Ehlen and Kyra, Quiana and Catrina Klossner. She has sister-in-law June Klossner of Portland as well as niece Kelly and nephew Kirk with their extended families. She was predeceased in death by her beloved husband Wendell D. Klossner, brother- in-law Gordon, niece Lori Klossner Rouches, daughter-in-law Lauri Rathmann and parents Alice F. and Lindley Potts. It is with gratitude that Vicki thanks all of the wonderful angels who cared for Patti during her four years at Wood Glen Hall and particularly thanks Buena for her loving care. A special thank you to family friend Wendy Sandburg RN for her help and love during this transition. A Memorial Celebration of Patti's life will take place at 1:30 Sat., Nov. 26 in the library of Wood Glen Hall. All are welcome to share memories. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to be made to Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.

Patricia Ann Klossner

November 12, 1930 - November 15, 2011