Winnetka Obituary: Patrick Mark Wetzel, 21

The following obituary is courtesy of Donnellan Family Funeral Services.

Patrick Mark Wetzel, age 21 of Winnetka, IL, passed away on January 3rd, 2016 as a result of a canoeing accident in Wisconsin.

Pat was first and foremost loyal to his family and friends. His deep friendships developed early in his life through sports and outdoor activities. When Pat was 17, he participated in a service trip to Cambodia where he helped build a school. The program, Caring for Cambodia, ignited a love for both adventure and service. Pat followed this service with two Habitat for Humanity trips in Guatemala and planned to return to Central America after graduation.

He was currently a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he discovered his love for skiing and hiking in the Mountains.

Pat is remembered by his family as a gentle and caring brother and son. An avid pet lover, he adored his miniature schnauzer, Sammy, and often threatened to bring home a new puppy.

Patrick is survived by his parents, Mark & Colette. He was also a loving brother to Megan, Alex, Elizabeth and brother-in-law Michael Slovitt. He will be missed by his grandparents, Ann Wetzel and Norman Dyer, his aunts and uncles and many cousins.

The Wetzel family gives special thanks to Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, its dive team and the Chief of Police of East Troy for the many hours they worked to bring Pat home.

Visitation Monday, January 11, 2016, 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. at Old Orchard Rd. Skokie, IL 60077.

Funeral Mass Tuesday, January 12, 2016, 10:00 a.m. at Saints Faith Hope & Charity Church 191 Linden Street, Winnetka, IL 60093.

Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Patrick’s name to Bruce’s Legacy,www.bruceslegacy.com, a Wisconsin based volunteer organization providing emergency assistance and search and recovery operations for drowned victims.

The family will release additional details for building “Pat’s House” through Habitat for Humanity in the near future.

Info: www.donnellanfuneral.com or (847) 675-1990