Patricia Ann Brandstaetter

Patricia Ann (Passeri) Brandstaetter, age 82, of Cloquet, MN, died Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at her Island Lake home in Hibbing, MN. She was born March 23rd, 1943, in Hibbing, MN, to Ethel H. (Westin) Danielson and Arnold N. Danielson.

Pat married Paul W. Brandstaetter June 28th, 1980, in Spartanburg, SC, and returned with him to Duluth, MN, to share 45 years of marriage grounded in the love of family and friends, enjoying life and travel. Her love and caring extended to many communities throughout her career which began as an activity director at UDAC; later as a life skills Special Education teacher in Inman, SC; a Special Education teacher at Central HS in Duluth, and finally as the Special Services program coordinator in Mt. Iron, MN, for the Region 3 NESC which provided regional and statewide training, and regional direct support services to students with low-incidence physical and other health impairments.

In retirement, Pat continued her community involvement and advocacy as a Guardian Ad Litem in Carlton County, a board member of the Arrowhead Regional Library Association, a member and officer of the Carlton County Historical Society and its Foundation, and as a volunteer member and mentor of the Cloquet Public Library Friends.

She lived a full and vibrant life that included fabulous flower and vegetable gardens, cooking, baking, and elegant gourmet dining and entertaining; travel that connected her to her Norwegian/Swedish heritage, and to Paul’s Austrian heritage. And shopping! However, a kayak ride with her morning coffee, a glass of wine and a campfire at the lake, reading a good book while wrapped in a blanket in front of the fireplace at home, or spending time with Paul, her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and closest friends were the best of times. Pat’s family was comforted by her having been granted her final wish, a chance to spend one more summer at her home on Island Lake, her ‘happy place’, even though that precious time was a ‘song sung blue’ that everyone knew.

Pat is survived by her husband, Paul Brandstaetter; children Jeffrey Passeri, Christine (Kevin) Passeri Maleck, Lynda (David) Passeri Abkemeier; brothers David (Susan) Danielson, and Norman (Sue) Danielson; sister-in-law, Linda Mugge; brothers and sisters-in-law John C. (Pat) Brandstaetter, Ralph W. (Mary) Brandstaetter; Brian Passeri, Charlotte (Gary) Steinberg, and Carolyn Hartlieb; dear friend and ‘best woman’, Karin Robbins; 10 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; foster son, Rob J. Davis, and beloved nieces and nephews from the Danielson, Passeri, and Brandstaetter families. Pat enjoyed, attended to, and cared for her ‘kiddos’, and cherished her connections to her family in Norway. Store varme klemmer!

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, and her first husband, the father of her children, Patrick V. Passeri.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held for Pat on Monday, September 29th, 2025, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Pike Lake Golf and Beach Club, 4895 Midway Road, Duluth, MN. In lieu of flowers or plants, donations in Pat’s memory may be made to the Carlton County Historical Society Foundation, the Cloquet Public Library Friends, or the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Center.

Pat’s family hereby extends its sincere and heartfelt thanks to each of her medical caregiver teams at the Mayo Clinic and Hospitals in Rochester, MN, and Fairview Range Hospice Care in Hibbing, especially, Ann.

Arrangements by the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing, MN. Please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com to leave a message of condolences.