Patricia M. Wiff was born in Baldwin, Wis. on Aug. 12, 1939, to Guy and Alice (Klein) Wiff.
She was raised on the family farm outside of Martell where she attended the Martell School – a one-room schoolhouse. “Pat” (as we always knew her) graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1957 and from the River Falls State Teacher’s College in 1961. She started her teaching career in Garden Grove, Calif. teaching fifth grade. Later she decided to pursue her love of history receiving her Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 1972. For over 16 years she taught history and social studies in Baldwin and Osceola (Wis.) as well as Franklin, Minn.
After caring for her mother for ten years, she set off to see the world. She visited Venice, Scotland, Norway and China, just to name a few. As she learned more about history, her curiosity about her ancestors increased and she decided to learn all that she could. Pat was never quite sure about technology, so her extensive genealogy research was conducted by writing letters to relatives in hopes that they would fill in missing knowledge. Pat was amazingly able to research the Wiff, Guiser, Klein, Reiss, Curry and Carter families. She compiled her research and shared it with many family members. Pat also wrote two comprehensive books on the history of Martell Township and Rush River Township. Pat loved antiquing, handicrafts, horses and all things Norwegian.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her two brothers. She is survived by her nieces, nephews and their families, many cousins as well as friends around the world.
At Pat’s request, no services will be held. A private interment is planned in September.
