Obituary of Patricia Helen (Ellingsen) Rouleau

Patricia Helen (Ellingsen) Rouleau passed into her eternal resting place while at the Silver Bay Veterans Home on Mother’s Day, 2021, with family by her side.  Born July 21, 1940, to Alice (Hill) & George Ellingsen, Pat was a lifelong Duluth resident, growing up in West Duluth (Fairmont neighborhood).  A 1958 Duluth Denfeld graduate, she enrolled in a bookkeeping class and worked for Minnesota Power & Light until 1961 when she married Jerome (Jerry) Rouleau. 

While raising 5 daughters, Pat was involved with Piedmont PTA and the Homemakers Club and was instrumental in starting the Piedmont Patriots 4-H Club.  Pat was an avid gardener and she enjoyed baking, canning, sewing, fishing, cross country skiing, bowling, walking with friends, spending time with family and saunas at the lake.      

Pat was involved in many activities, including an Election Judge, a volunteer at the Duluth Playhouse and a founding member of the Family Support Program at the 148th Air National Guard. 

Pat is survived by her daughters; Julie (Brad) Collander, Louanne (Phil) Kaupa, Peggy (Jeffrey Kaufmann) Rouleau, Gwen (John Zieska) Rouleau, Holly Rouleau; grandchildren: Cody Collander, Heather (Steve) Lind, Kristina, Jonathon & Daniel Kaupa, Abbey, Alice and Anna Zieska, Morgann (David Kreiss) McCarthy and Casey McCarthy; and a great granddaughter on the way; her brother Robert (Joyce) Ellingsen and his family, and special cousin Milt (Kay) Hill.   Pat is also survived by a handful of childhood friends who brought much support and laughter to her life for nearly eight decades. 

Pat is preceded in death by her parents & husband Jerry. Special thanks to the staff at the Silver Bay Veteran’s Home for the tender loving care provided to Pat and her family.

A Celebration of Pat’s life will be held 11AM on July 21, 2021, at Pike Lake Presbyterian Church, 5611 Martin Rd, Duluth, MN. Visitation at 9 AM. A luncheon will be held after the service and at 3 PM, there will be a gathering at the MN State Veteran’s Cemetery in Saginaw.

Memorials preferred to Silver Bay Veteran’s Home or Dementia Friendly Duluth.

Out of care and concern for family and friends, masks will be required while indoors.