Patricia A. Hutchinson, 75, of Sparta died quietly Sunday, December 2, 2007 at the Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta.

     Memorial services will be Friday, December 14, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Sparta with Reverend David Carlson officiating. A lunch will follow.

     Pat is survived by her husband, Julian, Sparta, and children, Teresa (Ron) Jessie, Sparta; John (Deanna) Hutchinson, Sparta; David (Rebecca) Hutchinson, Hudson; and Maria Hutchinson, Appleton. She has six grandchildren, Aaron and Jeremy, Appleton; John Jr, Madison; Tyler and Jake, Sparta; Ian and Grace, Hudson; and one great grandchild, Geordan, Rochester, MN.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Vora E. and Lillie R. (Bland) Whiteley.

     Pat was born on September 22, 1932, in Frankfort, Indiana. She studied art and graduated from High School in 1950.

     In the mid-1950’s, Pat worked as a commercial artist at Loeb’s Department Store in Lafayette, Indiana. On September 9, 1956, she married Julian Hutchinson at Ball Hill Methodist Church, a small country church located near Cutler, Indiana. Last year Pat and “Hutch” celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary.

     Since their arrival in Sparta in the fall of 1958, Pat has been active in the Sparta United Methodist Church. In the early years she served as a Sunday School Teacher and Cub Scout Den Mother. Until recently she was a member of the Trustees, SUMMIT Spirits (theater), United Methodist Women, Dawn Circle and the Mission, Outreach and Evangelism committees.

     Pat was a self-taught artist, who specialized in charcoal and oil portraits, porcelain painting, and the restoration of antique lamps. She established her own home art studio during the early 1970’s, and taught Rosemaling as a night course for UW- La Crosse for over 10 years.

     In addition to these artistic endeavors, Pat will also be remembered for her theater involvement, which spanned 30 years. She contributed to several local theater groups as Director, Set Designer, and Actress.

     She was a member of the Area Community Theater (ACT) at Fort McCoy from 1976 to 1992, and was also instrumental in the ACT’s “Summer Recruit Troupe” (SRT) productions.

    In 1999 Pat and her husband became involved with the organization and implementation of SUMMIT Spirits, the theater arm of the Sparta United Methodist Church. SUMMIT Spirits has since presented musicals, mysteries, dramas, short plays, skits and conducted workshops.

     Additionally, she produced and directed several Sparta High School productions, developed her own theater group, “PH and Company”, judged 4-H drama contests, performed skits at the Sparta Library Summer Youth Program, and conducted theater workshops for the Sparta School’s Gifted and Talented Program.

     Pat was also an authority on theater lighting, set construction, make-up, and costuming – expertise learned by attending State-wide workshops and many years of on-the-job training. She always said directing a play was like painting on canvass, except the figures were movable, with individual characters. Her shows were always perfectly color coordinated with sets, costumes, furnishings, and lights performing as a unit.

     Given Pat’s vast involvement in and her love of live theater, the family is considering the development of an appropriate scholarship as her memorial.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.