Patricia Ann Basler

On May 23, 2007, Patricia Ann Basler, 78. went to the Lord after succumbing to cancer, surrounded by her beloved son and his family. Pat was born on May 30, 1928 in Janesville, WI to Claude Patrick and Nina (Fagan) Small. On October 11, 1947, Pat married Warren Levi Basler in Hortonville, WI. Warren and Pat began their married life as dairy farmers until 1956. To pursue his love of aviation, they purchased the fixed based operation from Steve and Dorothy Wittman on January 1, 1957 and Basler Flight Service, Inc. began. Starting from a small hangar on Winnebago County Airport it grew with an additional hangar built in 1967. The focus of the company was on Warrens love of DC-3s, flying wherever need be with passengers or cargo. There was a great pride between the couple offering 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Basler Flight Service to accommodate the community of aviation. Working long hard hours, answering the phone during the day and night Pat was the backbone behind the scenes, involved in all the business matters, handling anything that came up, while Warren flew on business trips. In 1988, Basler Turbo Conversions opened its doors to complete their dream of converting the DC-3 into a Turbo Prop. Pat was co-owner of both these companies with her husband. Hosting people from all over the world who came to purchase the converted DC-3s, their lives revolved around the business until Warrens tragic death on March 15, 1997. Pat continued working at Basler Turbo Conversions until her retirement on November 8, 2002, selling her shares of the companies that Warren and her had started. Upon her retirement Pat flourished, volunteering at the Oshkosh Senior Center, the Grand Opera House, joined the Red Hats, traveling and dinner with friends, taking up golf, and attending mass at St. Raphaels. She was a superb cook and baker, and was wonderful at decorating her home. She got very involved in gardening with an English formal garden as her last endeavor. It wasnt easy to catch Pat home, she was on the go with her darling Shih Tzu, Turbo, in the right seat next to her, taking her precious dog wherever she went. Her long over due time for enjoyment, much deserved fun and leisure time was over thirteen months after her retirement when Sarcoma was diagnosed. Her three and a half year ordeal with this horrible form of Cancer had begun and she fought it with everything she had til the very end of her life, with not one complaint ever being spoken on her part. Pats faith in God, her love of her family, friends, her home, and her beautiful cat Sadie, who came into her life after losing Turbo, were what she concentrated on for the remainder of her life. Pat is survived by her deeply loved son Michael Warren (Kathryn) Basler of Oshkosh, her much loved daughter Barbara Ann (William) Saint James of Winter Park, FL, and the five lights of her life, her granddaughters, Kelly Michelle, Kerry Colleen, and Kourtney Corinne Basler all of Oshkohs, and Melissa Ruth and Chelsea Patricia Saint James of Winter Park, FL. Her family was the heart, soul, and love of her life and there wasnt anything she would not do within her power for any of them. She is further survived by her beloved sister, Jean (Small) Kelly of Medina, her devoted nephew and God-son Dick (Pat) Kelly of Cooperstown, NY, numerous sisters and brothers-in-law, as well as other nieces, nephews, relatives, dear friends, and employees of Basler Flight Service and Basler Turbo Conversions. Her parents, her cherished husband Warren, and numerous other family members preceded Pat in death. Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, 830 South Westhaven Drive, Oshkosh, WI from 2 PM until 6 PM when the Memorial Mass will begin, with Father Carl Schmitt officiating. Burial will be private. A memorial will be established to honor her memory in lieu of flowers. Pats family would like to thank the numerous caregivers, Affinity Hospice, Kelly and Kerry Basler for their dedication, devotion, and loving kindness that enabled her to stay at home til the end. We could not have done it without all of your help and we thank God for each and every one of you.She opened her eyes and saw before her fields of wildflowers and beds of shamrocks with the sun gently beating on her face. Breathing deeply without pain, she smelled the first summer lilacs and wild roses that appeared all around her. Beginning to walk she stepped carefully through the flowers at first but was filled with a strength that she had not had for a very long time and began to run, realizing no one needed to assist her. She felt the warm May breeze of new life blowing into her body. She looked down at her hands and they were not bruised or wrinkled, but looked young and healed. She touched her head and felt thick hair covering it and glancing at a lock she saw that it was jet black, like so long ago. She gazed ahead into the distance where the leaves of trees rustled back and forth and the sound of water, rushing over rocks greeted her ears like a song. So this is heaven, she thought, but where is everybody she pondered. Suddenly, all around her grew still and she saw a golden DC-3 descend just ahead of her, landing so quickly that she couldnt believe her eyes. She put her hand over her heart and out of the plane he came, her Warren with Turbo in his arms and Bridget dancing at his feet. He waved and yelled her name, telling her to come on board and meet everyone who had come to greet her. She began to smile, wondering why she didnt feel sad anymore, but she felt a tug and stopping she turned and blew a kiss back to her family on earth. As she began to walk forward thru the fields of flowers toward the man she had missed these ten long years, she knew that all her loved ones would be alright until they joined her after their own journeys of life.Written by Kathryn A. Basler/dedicated to Patricia A. Basler 5/23/07

St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church



830 S Westhaven Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
2 PM - 6 PM



St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church



830 S Westhaven Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
6:00 PM



Lake View Memorial Park



2786 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh
WI
54901