Patricia “Pat” Ann Wienecke Tackett was born May 25, 1950 in Eugene Ore. weighing in at a little over four pounds. She passed away May 11, 2021 in Monroe, N.C. after an extensive battle with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 70. During those 70 years she packed in a lot of living and wonderful experiences.
Pat was the third daughter of Milbert “Mel” and Leona Wienecke joining sisters Nanci and Alice. A brother, Jim, arrived a few years later. She attended Patterson Elementary, Jefferson Jr. High School, and graduated from Churchill High School in 1968. Shortly after graduation she joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, Wash. It was there that she met the love of her life, Bill Tackett, also in the Air Force.
Pat and Bill were married in Eugene in 1971 and immediately moved to Bitburg AFB in Germany where they were stationed for four years. She fulfilled her Air Force obligation and they started their family with the births of her children, Duane and Lisa. Bill remained in the Air Force so Pat had the opportunity to travel all over the world and also worked as a federal employee. After Bill’s retirement, they settled in Eugene for a few years and then moved to the Seattle area where Pat worked many years at the General Services Administration (GSA) in Auburn, Wash. After her retirement from GSA they moved to Springfield and then to Indian Trail, N.C. to be closer to her daughter.
Pat made many friends around the globe through her travels and interests which included bowling, reading, traveling, cooking, flower gardening, and quilting. Quilting became her passion and she would travel to quilt shops far and wide to find the perfect fabric for her next project. She was prolific in her artistic endeavors and always had something “quilted” to give as that special gift.
Pat is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Bill; son, Duane (Christin) Tackett of Westminster, Colo.; daughter, Lisa (Shane) Rangel of Unionville, N.C.; and two granddaughters, Katherine and Nicole. She is also survived by her siblings, Nanci Hogan of Eugene; Alice (John) Brooks of Coburg; and Jim (Kathy) Wienecke of Eugene. Pat will be lovingly remembered and missed by other numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends across the United States and around the world.
Pat was interned at the National Military Cemetery in Salisbury N.C. A celebration of life was held in North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Pat’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org). It is our hope that one day a cure for this terrible disease will be found.
