Pat Donaldson

Pat Donaldson, 89, passed away peacefully at home on November 6, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family. He was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on June 4, 1936, the fifth of nine children of Josephine and Ralph Donaldson. Pat enjoyed growing up in his large loving Scott-Irish, Polish and German family where there was plenty of fun to be had at the lake down the road or sitting around the table at night enjoying each other’s company and their mother’s Polish and German cooking. Pat learned at an early age the importance of faith and family. The Donaldson family was incredibly tight knit rooted deeply to each other throughout their lives, no matter the miles between them. Their family parish, St. Patrick’s, was the epicenter of their family with Josephine taking all the children to daily mass every day before school.

Pat graduated from Regis High School in 1954 and from the University of St. Thomas in 1958, where he played football. After college, he served two years in the Army in what he jokingly called the “Battle of Fairbanks, Alaska.” A visit to his sister Barbara in Phoenix one December inspired a move out West, where he founded a medical supply company.

Pat’s passion, however, was always his family. Pat was first a proud and “fun uncle” to 23 nieces and nephews, who remember him as the annual Santa (who for some reason smelled like Uncle Pat’s aftershave) and the uncle who would take no prisoners wrestling nephews on the living room floor. Eventually Pat settled down, married and had three children who were truly his pride and joy. Family time was marked with lots of dinners with cousins, killing hot Phoenix summer days by swimming in the pool and Pat manning the BBQ cooking burgers and steaks. Pat was often the life of the party wherever he went, always ready with a joke, a lighter, or a friendly pour--but also had a genuine interest in everyone he met and what made them tick.

In retirement, Pat found joy in simple pleasures—driving around town to drop in on relatives, arriving with an armful of doughnuts or ice cream or See’s Candy during the holidays. A man of quiet service, he volunteered as a dishwasher at St. Vincent de Paul until he was 88.

Pat was profoundly generous, deeply humble, and forever young at heart. His ever-present smile and twinkle in his eye brightened every room. In his own words, from a handwritten note:

“Thank you to all—you make life worth living! Love to you all—always, Pat”

Pat is preceded in death by his daughter, Camille Sypura, and his siblings and their spouses Mary Josephine, OSB; Elizabeth (John); John Charles; Robert (Mary); Barbara (Nate); Rev. Tom; Bridget, OSB; and Rita’s husband Dave. He is survived by his sister, Rita; two children, Pat (Shannon) and Ann-Marie (DJ) and son-in-law, Bill; nine grandchildren Thomas, Katie, Josephine, Libby, Lainey, Sophia, Camille, John, and Chris; and 23 cherished nieces and nephews.

We will celebrate Pat’s life with a Rosary at 11A.M. and Funeral Mass at 11:30A.M. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 4715 N. Central Ave, Phoenix. If you are joining us, please consider wearing your Irish or Green Bay Packer green.

Honoring Pat’s request for a last road-trip visiting family and never wanting to impose on people to have them travel on his behalf, we will have a celebration of Pat’s life in Tyler, Texas and a Memorial Mass and Burial at St. Patrick’s Church and Cemetery in the family plot in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

To honor Pat’s memory, please consider donating to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph’s, MN, or to St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix.