Patricia Ann Nolf

Patricia Ann Nolf (nee Nelson) of Lake Orion, died on December 14, 2025 at the age of 86. Her last days were spent with her family frequently by her side. Pat was born on January 30, 1939 in Iron Mountain, Michigan. She was the last of ten children born to Donald E. and Margaret L. (Kelly) Nelson. After graduating from Kingsford High School, she followed many of her siblings south to attend Michigan State University. It was at MSU where she met her future husband, Dein F. Nolf, due to their alphabetical seating arrangement in Management 301 in the Natural Science building. Dein introduced her to Spartan sports, to which she would become a lifelong (sometimes suffering) fan. Pat and Dein married on August 19,1961, following their graduation from Michigan State. They moved to Detroit where Pat worked as both an executive secretary and teacher. Pat and Dein had four daughters, Denise, Emily, Jennifer, and Sarah. Pat eventually stopped working outside the home and dedicated herself to raising her daughters.

Pat was a fierce advocate for education and fought for her daughter’s education by attending school board meetings and advocating for various programs. She was active in the PTA and enjoyed attending various concerts and sporting events. She was very active in the American Association of University Women while her girls were in school. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Pat started the Pink Ribbon Trailblazers. Pat, along with Dein, raised money to provide mammograms and breast care for those that could not afford to do so for themselves. As a result of her hard work, Pat was named a recipient of “The 100” by Massachusetts General Hospital in 2014. Pink Ribbon Trailblazers lives on through the foundation at Trinity Hospital Oakland. Pat was a devout Catholic and particularly loved being a parishioner at Christ the Redeemer in Lake Orion where she was a Eucharistic Minister.Those that knew Pat knew that she was the life of the party. While her girls were in school and afterward, she played golf, was on bowling leagues, loved playing bridge with her friends, and beating Dein at cribbage. She was not going to miss out on any of the fun. She had many friends and whenever her daughters met one of them, they would say, “I just love your mom.” 

Pat, like all the Nelson sisters, loved babies and she was blessed with twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She enjoyed attending their concerts and sporting events as well. She was fortunate enough to be able to hold her oldest great grandchild in 2022.

 Pat and Dein were married for 64 years. They enjoyed attending Spartan football games to see their daughter, Sarah, in the marching band. They enjoyed travelling, making frequent trips to her beloved Upper Peninsula to eat pasties and visit camp. Patricia is survived by her husband, Dein Nolf; four daughters, Denise Truelove, Emily (Keith) Stadwick, Jennifer (Aaron) Tweadey, Sarah Binkowski; grandchildren, Ryan Truelove, Matthew (Tonya) Truelove, Nicholas (Emily) Truelove, Natalie Stadwick (Patrick) O’Keefe, Rachel (Fiancee Crits) Stadwick, Nathan (Sarah) Stadwick, Jacob Stadwick, Kira Binkowski, Margaret Binkowski, Elizabeth Tweadey, Julia Tweadey, Benjamin Tweadey. Great-grandchildren: Brielle Truelove and Adilynn Truelove. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Shirley Nelson, Mary Nelson, and Cynthia (Gary) Camp, an numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Margaret Nelson, siblings Katherine (George) Goulash, Alice (Thomas) Brown, Merlin Nelson, Donald (Donna) Nelson, Irving (Sarah Jane) Nelson, Carol (Leo) Trautner, Mavis (David) Powell, Norma (David) Scolatti, and Allen Nelson.Pat’s family would like to specially thank the caregivers and staff for the kindness and care Pat and Dein have received at Willowbrook Hills Assisted Living and Memory Care.Visitation will be held for Pat at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home in Lake Orion, Michigan, on December 19, from 4-8 pm with prayer service from 7-8 pm. Funeral mass will be held at Christ the Redeemer Church in Orion Township, Michigan, on December 20, visitation from 10:30-11 am with mass at 11 am.

Those wishing to honor Pat’s memory may make a contribution to the Donald E. And Margaret L. Nelson Scholarship Fund of the Dickinson Area Community Foundation at https://godonate.akoyago.com/DICKINSONAREACF/fund/nelson-scholarship  or send a check to (reference Nelson Foundation):

Donald E. And Margaret L. Nelson Scholarship Fund of the Dickinson Area Community Foundation

333 South Stephenson Avenue, Suite 204

Iron Mountain, MI 49801

To continue the work of the Pink Ribbon Trailblazers, contributions can be made to Trinity Health-Southeast Michigan at https://giving.trinityhealthmichigan.org/oakland or send a check to (reference Pink Ribbon Trailblazers): 

Trinity Health-Southeast Michigan

Office of Philanthropy, Records Processing

PO Box 995

Ann Arbor, MI 48106-9736