Pat passed away Thursday afternoon, March 31, 2022, at Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont. Memorials are preferred to the St. John Vianney Endowment Fund and Martin County Humane Society. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Colleen Patricia (McDonald) Samlaska, known as “Pat,” was born the only child of George and Norma (Erickson) McDonald on Oct. 19, 1931, in Fairmont. Pat and her parents moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa when she was young. There, she attended St. Pat’s Catholic grade school, where her love of music and singing began, in addition to her Dad playing piano in various bands during the “Big Band era,” that is. They moved back to Fairmont where Pat’s family owned and operated the G & W Café. She graduated from FHS in 1949. She had a strong affection for Fairmont and her alma mater, and would often speak of the lump she got in her throat whenever she heard the school song. For many years, Pat would later look forward to planning and attending class reunions with her former friends and classmates. After graduation, Pat attended the College of Medical Technology and worked in Minneapolis for one year before returning to Fairmont where she met her husband. She married Glen Arthur Samlaska on Feb. 15, 1954. The union was blessed with four children, Frank, Sue, Julie and Chris. They were married 51 years. Sadly, Glen passed away on Feb. 10, 2005. In 1973, Pat joined Martin County Human Services as a child health aide. In 1976, she began doing the Well Child Program for Martin, Faribault and Watonwan counties. Pat had a passion and love for children and they loved her. She cherished her with work with the agency and the time she spent there. She retired on Oct. 20, 2003, after 30 dedicated years. Pat was an active member of the community she loved. She was president of the American Cancer Society Board for Martin County for three of the 16 years she served, the Hospital Auxiliary for five years, the Right to Read Council, the FHS Band Booster Board for five years, and taught Sunday school for nine years at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, where she was a member from the time she was young. In keeping with her love of music, Pat sang with the Mozart’s Marching Society for three years and had a terrific sense of rhythm. She loved to dance, and it was once noted by a close friend that people would come from miles around to watch her when she was young. Pat had a strong sense of faith, and said the rosary every day, without fail. She also loved people, and would socialize with anyone and everyone she met. She would often say that like her Dad, she had never met a stranger. In her spare time, Pat enjoyed playing cards, she especially loved playing Mexican Train with her friends at Goldfinch when she resided there as well as Farkle and Kings in the Corner with her friends at Lakeview Methodist Healthcare Center. She loved animals and enjoyed visits from her furry friends. Pat was a huge Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan, and enjoyed listening to music, as well as watching Turner Classic movies. However, more than anything else, family was the most important part of Pat’s life. She loved her children and grandchildren “bunches and bunches.” They were the light of her life. Pat (and Glen) enjoyed traveling to attend many of their activities through the years, and she would talk about her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with immense pride, to anyone who would listen. She looked forward to seeing her family and to phone calls, FaceTime, and texts and photos when she could not be with them. Pat was the heart of her family, loved beyond measure, and will be greatly missed. May God bless her memory.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Frank (Diane) Samlaska; daughters, Sue (Robert) Lunn, Julie, and Chris (Lon) Boike; grandchildren, Holly Morff, John Samlaska, Teresa Samlaska, Paul Samlaska, Matthew (Rachel) Lunn, Michael (Kayla) Lunn, and Alec Boike, Sydney Boike and Caden Boike; great-grandchildren, Nolan and Ainsley Lunn and Laikin Lunn; her beloved Sugar; cousins, Judy (Jerry) Kuhnle and family, Jerry (Cheryl) Nelson and family, Scott (Lynette) Erickson, and Don and Jim McDonald and families; and special friends who are like family. Along with her parents, George and Norma McDonald, her husband, Glen Samlaska, many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins preceded Pat in death. Pat’s family would like to thank the staff at Goldfinch Estates (especially Mary Larson), the wonderful staff at Lakeview Methodist Healthcare Center, Adria Whiting C.N.P., Andrew Brevik, D.O., Abraham Joseph M.D., and Durga Komaragiri (Giri), M.D. of the Mayo Clinic Health System, Fairmont for their wonderful care over the years. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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