Suttons Bay – Patricia Ann Vingsness, age 97, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026.

Patricia was born on March 23, 1929, to Claude Wilcox and Christina Korson. She built a life rooted in family, creativity, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the beauty found in everyday moments.

On June 17, 1950, Patricia married the love of her life, Milton “Jim” Vingsness, at St. Wenceslaus Church in Gills Pier, Michigan.

Patricia was an artist in every sense of the word. A talented painter and creative spirit, she saw possibility where others saw ordinary things. Her home and gardens reflected her artistic eye, and she took great pride in nurturing her flowers. She was blessed with both a creative and analytical mind.

A lifelong teacher without ever intending to be one, Patricia had a remarkable gift for turning everyday experiences into lasting lessons. Long before information was available at the touch of a button, she encouraged her family to seek knowledge, think critically, and continually improve themselves. She believed learning was a lifelong pursuit and inspired those around her to be curious about the world.

Her grandchildren especially benefited from her unique approach to life. Visits to Grandma’s house rarely meant sitting in front of a television. Instead, Patricia would place paintbrushes and canvases into eager hands, encouraging creativity and imagination. She would lead adventures on hikes, the beach, exploring, searching for Petoskey stones and other treasures, and learned to appreciate the natural world. In a lesson that many would only fully understand years later, she would quietly return the collected stones to the beach after each visit, teaching that nature’s treasures are meant to be enjoyed, respected, and shared.

Patricia’s legacy lives on not only through the family she loved so dearly, but through the countless lessons she taught by example—lessons of curiosity, stewardship, creativity, self-reliance, and lifelong learning. Her influence can be seen in the lives of those she guided, encouraged, and inspired.

She will be remembered for her kindness, wisdom, artistic spirit, love of nature, and unwavering belief that there is always something new to learn. Her family takes comfort in knowing that the values she instilled and the memories she created will continue to be passed from generation to generation.

Patricia will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

Patricia is survived by her children Rita (Dan) Meadows, Edward (Jennifer) Vingsness, & Douglas (Jill) Vingsness, son-in-law Mark Herman; her grandchildren Matthew, Kimberly, Danyel, Dwayne, Connie, Scott, Tina, Heather, Hailey, Erik, Jeremiah, Rachel, Lauren, Mason, Blake, and Leah; and her greatgrandchildren Mitchell, Jacob, Johnny, Michael, Kaylie, Connor, Garrett, Adell, Archer, Ryan, Paul, Stevie, Dixon, Beau, Auden, and Parker.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, her parents and her children Thelma “Jo” Herman, Donna (Joseph) Tomlinson, and Ronald (Pamela) Vingsness.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home in Suttons Bay. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, at St. Michael’s Church in Suttons Bay, with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Father Leonard Paul will serve as celebrant.

Procession to and burial in Leelanau Twp. Cemetery will follow.

Memorials may be directed to Share Care of Leelanau PO Box 157 Suttons Bay MI 49682, St. Michael’s Building Fund PO Box 9 Suttons Bay MI 49682, and/or Hospice of Michigan 10850 E Traverse Hwy Suite 1155 Traverse City MI 49684 Please share condolences and memories with Patricia’s family at www.martinson. info.

Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.