Patricia Marie Fangman, 50, of Atchison, Kansas died Sunday, January 12 at the Atchison Hospital.  

Visitation will be 6-7:00 P.M., January 14 at St. Benedict’s Church with a rosary at 7pm.  The Mass of the Resurrection will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, January 15th at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Atchison with burial following at Mount Calvary Cemetery. A lunch will follow at St. Joseph’s Church (705 Spring Garden St.).   Memorial contributions in remembrance of Trish should be made to Mount Saint Scholastica Monastery. Care entrusted to the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home.  

As she often let people know, Patricia Marie “Trish” Fangman was born on October 17, 1969 in Columbia, Missouri.  She was the 8th of 9 children born to Anne and Elmer Fangman.  Starting out life with Down Syndrome would be considered by many to be a disadvantage but it proved to be a gift enjoyed by those who came to know her.   

Trish first entered the USD 409 school system in the 1970’s in Atchison.  At the time, society viewed children with significant handicaps differently than today.  Trish and the other significantly handicapped students were segregated to a relatively empty small building at the edge of town with little supervision and no educational services were offered to them.  Trish and her parents led the fight for those handicapped individuals and families to obtain educational and support services from USD 409. It was an arduous several years that resulted in Trish and the others gaining individual respect and educational support from the school system.  Within a few years the school system not only acquiesced but embraced the handicapped and Trish enjoyed learning both educationally and socially as she matriculated through grades in the Atchison elementary and middle schools in a program called “mainstreaming.” She learned to read, which became a great joy to her throughout her life.  Trish also had many social friendships with other children in her classes, benefitting her by their acceptance and benefitting them by teaching them about the dignity of the handicapped person.

Trish was proud to graduate from Atchison High School in 1990 in a small ceremony.  It was the beginning of a cherished relationship for her with USD 409 as shortly thereafter she took a job in the elementary school cafeteria.  She would be a diligent worker there for the next 26 years, meeting hundreds of Atchison’s children and being in the midst of caring co-workers.

A conscientious worker, Trish had as many as three jobs at a time.  These included over a decade at Atchison Products, work at the Achievement Center and at the Dooley Center.  She also volunteered regularly to read to, talk with and pray with senior residents of the Atchison Medicalodge. 

Trish spent her final years in at Mount Saint Scholastica’s Dooley Center and was the beneficiary of their loving care.  

Patricia was preceded in death by her mother, Anne Elizabeth (Supple) Fangman.  

She is survived by her father Elmer, her siblings Dan (Dolly), Joan (John) Schuster, Michael (Nancy), Susan (Craig) Husting, Paul (Doug), John, Colleen (Lester) Hubble, Matt (Kathy) and numerous nieces and nephews.