Patricia Ann Fleming

Patricia Fleming was known around Janesville by many titles. If you met her on a night out she might be "The Hat Lady"; if she delivered you a singing balloon-o-gram, "The Balloon Lady"; if you were a child crossing Milton Avenue for school you may have called her "The Crossing Guard".

But her children and grandchildren affectionately called her “The Queen Mum". A self-appointed title, figuring she had the life and style to carry the crown. Her love of clothes and fashion began at an early age. Throughout her life she found great pleasure in pairing the right outfit with the right shoes, jewelry, accessories, purse, and of course the signature hat.

Born in 1939, Patricia was the fourth child of George E. and Helena Kessler Householder. She fondly recalled memories of growing up with her parents and siblings on the Kessler farm. Going to Willowdale School, a one room schoolhouse and later years in Janesville, living on Jackson Street.

In 1955 Patricia married her high school sweetheart, Thomas N. Thompson (d.2011). Together they were the proud parents of their four daughters. One of her first jobs was a shoe saleswoman and bookkeeper for Biwer's Shoe Store in downtown Janesville. She then worked a few years at Woodman's Bakery before following her mother's footsteps as a telephone operator for Wisconsin Bell.

Patricia and her sister Georgia were involved in Janesville Little Theater, along with their many other escapades. As a young mother Patricia enjoyed taking her daughters to Riverside & Palmer Parks, stopping for a treat at a root beer stand or taking a day trip to the zoo in Madison or Milwaukee. Her daughters recall a period when they never missed a Sunday night at the outdoor drive-in movie. And how their Mom always took her summer vacation during the 4-H fair so they could attend every day.

In 1970 she married “the love of her life Capt. Robert P. Fleming. The family moved to the Atlanta area where they started a private cargo airline. Patricia also worked as a Data Processing Operator, feeding punch cards into early computer processing units that took up an entire room. By the time Bob relocated the airline business to South Florida she no longer worked and enjoyed living a “life of leisure" with more time to focus on her favorite hobby.. shopping. During their time together she and Bob traveled frequently to the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and elsewhere. And she was always on top of the latest styles and fashions.

In 1981 Patricia moved back to Janesville to be closer to her family. She married David F. Williams in 1984, who she dubbed “the most exciting". She wore a white dress and had the wedding of her dreams. To her there was nothing wrong with three marriages and divorces... it was all a great adventure.

It was upon her return to Janesville, when Patricia and her second daughter Carrie Jo started their own business “Fancy Flights", a singing balloon-o-gram service that was a fixture in Janesville for 30 years. The first costumed delivery was a surprise appearance at her sister Georgia's 50th birthday. People throughout town still remember her popping into the school office dressed as a singing banana, or showing up as the Grim Reaper holding a plastic sickle in one hand and a bouquet of black balloons in the other for an “over the hill" birthday, or showing up on the line at the GM plant dressed as Dolly Parton or the Lady in Red to sing a little ditty and deliver a kiss on the cheek for someone's retirement. Her grand kids can recall getting picked up from school in a car overstuffed with inflated balloons and stray costume accessories as they ran a couple of deliveries on the way home. In 2012 a balloon release was done on sister Georgia's 80th birthday marking the close of the business.

But the Balloon Lady was not done yet. For the past 17 years Patricia would proudly tell people that she was employed by the Janesville Police Department. She traded in her character costumes for a bright yellow safety vest that read "Crossing Guard", and was armed with a flashing handheld stop sign. She took the job of helping children cross the intersection of Memorial Drive and Milton Avenue very seriously. She enjoyed getting to know the children and watching them grow up. She was touched to receive many thank you notes and occasional flowers from the children throughout the years. She reluctantly retired at the end of the school year 2023.

Throughout her life Patricia found great enjoyment in reading books, the Gazette and completing the daily puzzles. Keeping up with politics and sharing her opinions on the latest goings on was another way she socialized and let you know where she stood. The family knew never to call the house during Jeopardy, World News, or Wheel of Fortune. Any regular listeners of WCLO are probably familiar with hearing her call in to share her perspective on the topic of the day.

On the afternoon of November 27th 2023, Patricia passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all four of her daughters. We reminded her of how much she was loved, thanking her for the wonderful memories, and letting her know how much she will be missed.

Patricia is survived by her four daughters. Cheryl Ann (Joe) Stromski, Carrie Jo Nicoloff, Crislinn Lee Patterson, and Catrina Louise Bade; 11 grandchildren. Anthony (Christy) Nehls, Alexander (Alison) Nehls, Adrien (Kati) Nehls, James Bade Jr, C. Ryan (Rachel) Patterson, Zachary (Jessica) Bade, Joseph (Sarah) Stromski, Peter (Ashley) Nicoloff, Alexandra (Corbin) Reynolds, William (Cherish) Bade, and Mary Patricia (Mike) Bade Mandala; 13 great grandchildren. Ethan (Kira) Nehls, Elicia (Nick) Nehls, Tyler Nehls, Sophia Stewart, Aiden Coldsmith, Banner Patterson, Amelia Nehls, Noelle Stromski, Aubrey Nehls, Abraham Nehls, Linden Stromski, Eleanor Nicoloff, and Callum Nicoloff. She also has a great grandson expected in April and her first great great grandchild is expected in May. Patricia is also survived by her sister, Georgia Dietz; brothers, James (Betty) Householder, and Howard Householder; brother-in-law, Stuart Johnson; son-in-law, Christopher Patterson; many nieces, nephews and close friends.

Patricia was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Mary Alice Householder; grandson, Andrew Nehls; her parents; sister, Donna K. Johnson; son-in-law, James Bade, Sr.; brother-in-law, Leroy Dietz; and sister-in-law, Nancy Householder.

The family will be planning a private celebration of life at a later date.

“Some birds aren’t meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright.”

Patricia’s daughters would like to thank Agrace Hospice for their incredible care and support. You made it possible for us to keep mom home as she wished.

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services of Janesville is assisting the family. Online condolences can be shared at www.866allfaiths.com

All Faiths Funeral & Cremation Services

Janesville, Wisconsin

(608) 754-8700