Patricia “Pat” C. Ruzick

Patricia C. Ruzick
May 25, 1938 – October 17, 2025 

Pat  – “The little lady in the back pew”

Died peacefully in her sleep after a short illness on October 17, 2025, at age 87. Beloved wife and soul mate for 57 years to Charles (Charlie). Endearing brother of Ed (Sandy) Rozga and aunt of Brandon (Maggie) Rozga, Catherine (Robert) Kwapick, Craig (Kelly) Butrym, William (Nora) Butrym, and Gary Butrym. She was also loved and will be missed by additional family and many friends.

Pat was born in Washington, D.C. and during her younger years was raised in Wausau, WI.  In the late ‘50’s when she was in her early 20’s, she moved to Milwaukee and eventually worked as an executive secretary for General Motors in Oak Creek.  She married Charlie in 1963 and they soon bought a home in SW Milwaukee in which they lived their entire married lives.

‘The little lady in the back pew’ was present at every St. Matthias Saturday evening service unless her health situation prevented it. 

In the last couple of years, she looked forward to regularly joining the rest of the ‘Culver’s Club’ for an after-service dinner.  She volunteered for a variety of different organizations as well as providing personal care, support and friendship to a number of acquaintances.

She harkened back to simpler times when family was a priority and communicating with friends & family was most often done by snail-mail and telephone – she thrived on simply keeping in touch. 

Near the top of her list of favorite foods were fresh Georgia peaches which she’d get by the box.  Maybe even a notch higher was her love of ice cream – so, no doubt, Culver’s Georgia Peach Crunch was absolute perfection! And, as far as perfection goes, she was so proud of the gorgeous peonies which she carefully tended and prominently displayed.  They were a constant sentimental link to her grandma who had grown them along the gravel driveway of the family farm in Mosinee. 

Her thoughtful and carefully crafted messages graced the inside of cards and letters she mailed to many family members and acquaintances alike.  It was like a little work of personal art that conveyed her meaningful thoughts in her beautiful cursive penmanship.

Services will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at St. Matthias Church 9306 Beloit Road, Milwaukee, WI. A period of Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM prior to a Funeral Mass scheduled for 12:00 PM. Internment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery 3801 West Morgan Avenue, Milwaukee, WI. A memorial gathering and luncheon will be held after the cemetery service at Meyer’s Restaurant 4260 S 76th St, Greenfield, WI.

In lieu of flowers, donating to one of her selected charities would be appreciated:
American Diabetes Association ADA Research Foundation
Leader Dogs for the Blind
Aurora Health Care Foundation
Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center
National Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Wisconsin Humane Society