Patricia M. Hinckley, 67, Howard, courageously died Sunday, May 18, 2014. She lived 14 productive years following a kidney transplant for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and spent her last weeks battling cancer.

Pat was born February 26, 1947, in Barberton, Ohio, to Harold and Margaret (March) Woods. She married James in a blizzard in 1968 in Arlington Heights, IL.

Pat graduated from Mundelein College in Chicago, IL in 1968, with a Bachelor's Degree in History. She obtained a Master's Degree in Urban Education and taught elementary school in the inner city of Chicago at the time of the Martin Luther King assassination. Before moving to Green Bay, Pat was an active member of the American Association of University Women in Portsmouth, VA and Annapolis, MD. She was a member of the Green Bay chapters of AAUW and the League of Women Voters. Pat was a strong proponent of voters' rights and passionate about getting girls interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Pat was active in forming NEWTAG (Northeast Wisconsin Talented and Gifted program), which became the cornerstone of the enrichment programs used by Green Bay Public Schools.

While raising her family, she returned to school at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and obtained her certification to teach high school social studies. She taught history and government at Ashwaubenon High School, earning Teacher of the Year and team Golden Apple awards. She developed the curriculum for women's history and women's studies—the first and only such class taught in Green Bay area high schools.

Pat was a member of the Founder's Board at UWGB and held multiple offices with AAUW. She recently taught English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at the Literacy Council of Green Bay.

Pat was an avid fan and benefactor of all athletic teams, especially Women's Basketball at UWGB.

She will be remembered for her incredible empathy towards others. Pat inspired her family with her selflessness in both her public and private lives, never seeking recognition while working to better the lives of others.

She is survived by her husband, James; children, Peter (Monica) Hinckley, Karen (Stephen) Stukovsky, Brant (Meaghan) Hinckley, and her many wonderful grandchildren, nephews, and nieces, especially Audra (Steven) Meteisis. She is also survived by her sisters, Barbara (Joseph) Rosolino and Virginia Oswald, and her brother, Dave (Lynne) Woods.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Margaret Woods, brother, Robert Woods, and infant daughter, Jeanine Terese.

We are deeply grateful to Virginia Oswald for giving us many wonderful years with our wife and mother through her kidney donation. We also thank the amazing oncology nurses and staff at St. Vincent Hospital, especially Rosy and Cornwall, for taking such great care of Pat and us during these last few weeks.

Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22. A Parish Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, followed by sharing of memories. Friends may also call from 10 a.m. to Noon, Friday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Ave. (one quarter mile east of the corner of Cardinal Ln. and Glendale Ave.). The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Noon Friday at the church with Rev. John Bergstadt officiating. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider making a donation in Pat's memory to the PKD Foundation, which supports education and research to better the lives of those living with PKD and their caregivers (www.pkdcure.org/donate).