ner eternal reward. Pat was born July 14 (she loved to remind people that was also Bastille Day) in
Mitchell, SD, to Thomas and Louise (nee Swedensky) Schmida. The oldest of nine children, she was a
natural leader and caregiver. She attended Notre Dame Catholic High School in Mitchell SD, where she
was active in theater and track.
Following high school, she worked for the Delany Clinic in Mitchell. In 1952 she married James Harold
Skelly of Mitchell and, in 1960, the couple adopted son Thomas. Unfortunately, Jim passed away in
1962. Pat and Tom remained in Mitchell until 1966, when she married V. Joseph Endres and the trio
moved to Austin, TX. Son Todd was born in 1967. The family moved back north in 1969, to Austin, MN,
where they founded the Gerard Schools; a residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed
children named after St. Gerard - the patron of motherhood and children. Following Joe's untimely
death in 1975, Pat took over and ran the company for 11 years. Now called Gerard Academy, the family
business is still going strong.
Pat found love again, marrying Dr. Raymond Wahl of Colorado Springs in 1986. They purchased a home
on Polo Drive, decorated by Pat inside and out for every holiday, which become the site of joyous
gatherings of friends and family for over three decades. Pat and Rav celebrated their 32ncd anniversarv on October 11.
