Patricia Ann Bollinger
March 24, 1938 ~ July 30, 2013
Patricia A. (McGuinness) Bollinger, 75, of Hartford, SD, died Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at home, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Visitation will be from 6-8:00 PM, Friday, August 2, 2013, at the Kinsley Funeral Chapel in Hartford. Graveside services will be held at 10:00AM, Saturday, August 3, at the Hartford Cemetery of Hartford, SD, with Pastor Chris Gorman officiating.
Patricia Ann McGuinness was born March 24, 1938, in Providence, RI, to William and Catherine (Hackett) McGuinness. She was one of five children and was raised and educated in the Providence area. She graduated from Hope High School and soon after traveled with her sister, Shirley, to San Diego. Eventually she met and married Wayne Dunham and the couple had two children, Valerie and Wayne II. Patsy worked at several jobs involving bookkeeping and clerical skills and also preparing legal documents for a law firm. She also served as the Executive Director of the Mojave Valley United Way for several years. In 1987, Patsy married Ron Bollinger. They resided in Barstow for a while and then wandered back to Mississippi. In 2000, Ron found an occupation in South Dakota and they moved out to Hartford. Patricia soon was working as a lunch lady for Lincoln High School.
Patsy was a very free spirit. She loved animals and was constantly rescuing cats. She also raised several dogs and two pot bellied pigs, Wilbur and Buddy. Patsy once took a cross-county trip on a Harley Davidson from California to Rhode Island to visit her mother via Louisiana, Florida and Georgia, and then back home.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Ron; her children, Valerie (Steve) Bruce, Canton, and Wayne Dunham II, Sioux Falls; step daughters, Lee (Jeff) Gentry, Pope, MS, and Mary Susan (Wayne Jr.) Cobb, Cleveland, MS; eight grandchildren, Jeffrey, Jana, and Sarah Bruce, Meredith, Mary Clay and Maggie Gentry, and Sara Chelsey and Jax Cobb; and two siblings, Dana (Edie) McGuinness of Florida and Shirley (George) Mowreader, Kennewick, WA.
Patsy was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Billy, and one sister, Winifred.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations should be made to the Charles & Gertrude Johnson Educational Scholarship Fund in Patsy’s memory.
So sorry for your family’s loss. Remember and cherish those special moments and know that she will always be looking down on you and smiling.
I never knew Aunt Patsy (aka to me:”DakotaPats”) rode a Harley Davidson cross-country, but somehow while I’m impressed, I’m not surprised. What a gutsy lady!! I can’t wait to meet her in person when I am called home to be with Jesus. We all know she is in a better place. I pray that God comfort you all during this time of mourning. He understands this is a great loss for all of you.
What a strong courageous lady,
Sincerely
Jammie
Well dakotapats,today we say farewell,but not forever. I will see you again. I know that you are in good hands ’til that reunion. After you get settled with our heavenly father, be sure and give my dad a big hug. Maybe you could introduce him to your mom and dad. Be sure and tell him that I did finally figure out how to do some of the things that he always helped me with. Tell him though that I still (at times) want to call him up and ask him (how to) questions such as when I replaced the drive on my self propelled mower. I could have used some advice on that one.Thank you for all the good years. I love you forever.Ronnie
P.S. Can you believe the dignity and respect that Todd Winkle showed us during this whole transition? It is obvious to me that he didn’t find his true calling in life ’til he took the leap into Heartland Funeral Home.Thank you Todd from my entire family.
Dear Ron,
I am off work for awhile and still feel terrible I did not see her obituary in the paper. Just as I thought she was a beautiful woman and quite an adventurous soul. Knowing your big heart and hearing about hers it is no surprise she took in cats. Genuine compassion is a lovely gift to have and I admire you both for that. I hope you and your family are focusing on the good times as I am sure that is what she would like you to do. Sometimes I think that although loosing someone is so difficult, one should celebrate their life, especially when they are no longer having any quality of life. My prayers go out to you and your family-please take care.
SARA