Patricia Marie Conklin (nee Kremer), born December 30, 1942, passed away peacefully on August 11 in Galesburg, Illinois.
Pat is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Rosemary Kremer and her brother, Rev. Joseph Kremer. She is survived by her brother, James (Mary Beth) Kremer; her husband Richard; their two children, Kathy (Ruediger Thul) Conklin and Julie (Homer) Apor; two grandchildren, Levi Conklin-Thul and Gabi Apor; as well as 11 foster children over 20 years.
Born in Elk River Minnesota, Pat’s family moved to Holdingford, Minnesota, where Pat attended all her elementary and high school grades. Upon graduation as co-valedictorian from Holdingford High School, Pat entered the Maryknoll Convent in Ossining, New York. She was with the Maryknoll sisters for 9 years, during which time she served as Guest Mistress, welcoming missionaries and dignitaries from around the world, as well as taking assignments teaching in inner city schools in New York City and Los Angeles.
Following Maryknoll, Pat taught various elementary grade levels in Chicago, St. Paul, and upper Minnesota, during which time she met Richard Conklin, to whom she would be married to for 53 years. Pat and her family moved to the Galesburg area in 1977. Initially, she taught preschool part-time at Grace Episcopal. Subsequently, Pat, along with Penny Bjorkman, started the Costa Preschool program, which she directed for 27 years. The school had 100, aged 3 and 4 year old students each year, making it the largest preschool in the Peoria Diocese, and allowing Pat to impact thousands of lives.
In addition to her passion for teaching, Pat was devoted to Pro-Life activism, beginning in 1973 with the Roe v. Wade decision. With every move her family made, she started or joined the local Pro-Life group. In the early 80’s, Pat co-founded Knox County Right to Life, which is still going strong today. Her Pro-Life activism involved direct support to women in crisis pregnancies, fostering children, community education, supporting Pro-Life candidates, citizen lobbying and occasionally picketing outside abortion clinics.
You can be sure that there will be many young boys and girls also impacted by her Pro-Life work joyfully waiting Patricia Conklin at the Pearly Gates and welcoming her home.
Patricia (Patti) Kremer Conklin, lived a loving life.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, August 23, 2024, at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory. Rosary will be prayed following the visitation at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Galesburg. Cremation will follow. Private burial of her cremated remains will be at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Holdingford, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Costa Catholic Academy or St. Vincent de Paul. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.