Paula Ann (Towne) Wendt

Paula Ann (Towne) Wendt, 52, of Fond du Lac, WI passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family, on September 11, 2023 following a long and courageous 9 year battle with ocular melanoma. Paula was born on September 3, 1971 to her beloved parents Jim and Kathy Towne. She graduated from Laconia High School in 1989 and graduated from Marian College with a nursing degree in May of 1995. On April 26, 1997 she married the love of her life, Jon, and raised 3 amazing children in their 26 years of marriage. Tyler, Megan, and Ryan brought her the greatest joy and provided her with her most cherished role as their proud and loving mom. Paula always cared for countless others and started her nursing career at St. Lukes in Milwaukee and furthered her career at St. Agnes Hospital. She spent the last 14 years of her career at Theisen Middle School as a school nurse up until her final months because of the strong support she received from her work family.

Paula enjoyed watching her kids play sports for many years and meeting many friends along the way. She loved her neighborhood game nights and 23 years of book club gatherings with her friends. In her down time, she enjoyed playing card games and putting puzzles together. Paula enjoyed traveling with her family, including many road trips to Pensacola Beach, FL. In her later years, she enjoyed spending time on her patio with her dog Elli. Paula especially loved her time at the family cottage, her “happy place.”

For the last 9 years, Paula fought every day to give her loved ones more time with her. Throughout her many treatments, trials, and hospital stays, she never complained and only looked forward. She has contributed to the cancer research field in so many ways, and many will benefit from her bravery and fighting spirit. “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live.” Paula truly lived her entire life and taught all who loved her to live as well.

Paula is survived by her devoted husband Jon, and her children Tyler, Megan, and Ryan. Her parents Jim and Kathy Towne of Eldorado, sister Terra (Brian) Kind, brother Cory (Brenda) Towne, maternal grandfather Donald Becker, mother-in-law Joan Wendt, brother-in-laws Jeff (Lori) Wendt, Jim (Jacquie) Wendt, Joel (Jill) Wendt, many cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, godmother Marcie Waterworth, and very close friends.

Paula is preceded in death by maternal grandmother Dolores Becker, paternal grandparents Kenneth and Arlyle Towne, godfather Dennis Becker, and father-in-law Arden Wendt.

The visitation will be held on Sunday, September 17, 2023, from 3 PM – 7 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home and again on Monday, September 18, 2023 at 10 AM, at Holy Family Church, 271 Fourth Street Way, Fond du Lac. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at 11 AM on Monday at Holy Family. Burial will follow the service at Rosendale Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Amy Harker-Murray, Dr. William Rilling, Dr. Michael Straza, Dr. Hui-Zi Chen, and all of the wonderful staff from Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. With their expertise, they played a significant role in allowing us to spend the last nine years with Paula. We would also like to thank the staff at SSM Health at Home Hospice for their compassionate care to Paula and the family during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family in Paula’s name for a memorial to be named at a later date.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com