Patricia Ann (Gower) Kansgen

Patricia Ann (Gower) Kansgen was born September 16, 1933 in Grand Junction, Colorado to Wiley and Elio Gower. She was their sixth child with three brothers, Jack, Wiley, and Calvin, and two sisters, Mary and Dorothy, who all preceded her in death.

Pat graduated from Grand Junction High School and Mesa Junior College (now Colorado Mesa University). She met her husband Merle Kansgen, a Korean War veteran, in 1954 at the college and they were married later that year. They had three children, Merle Jr. (Wayne) of Longmont, Melissa (Dunigan) of Colorado Springs, and Michael of Grand Junction. Pat has three grandchildren, Trista and Devin Kansgen in Longmont and Jace Kansgen in Grand Junction.

The Kansgens lived in Grand Junction until 1968, then lived in Montrose until they retired in 1994 and moved back to Grand Junction. Merle and Pat both volunteered at the VA Medical Center. Merle passed away at the VA in 2000. Pat continued volunteering at the VA and at Community Hospital for a total of 20 years.

Pat was able to spend the last five years of her life living near her daughter and son-in-law in Colorado Springs. She passed away peacefully at Mount Saint Francis Nursing Center at the age of 90 on January 3, 2024.