Patricia Jo Muessig, 68, of Fairlane Drive in Dowagiac, died at 7:16 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, following an extended illness.

She was born on March 22, 1942 in Newcastle, Ind. to Vincent and Martha (King) Hale and has lived in Dowagiac and Niles for most of her life. She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1960. She earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/English from Central Michigan University, received her elementary education certification from Western Michigan University and earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from Michigan State University.

Pat taught in Dowagiac Union Schools for 35 years and was an early practitioner of teacher visits to kindergarten students’ homes. She also trained teachers to fulfill new state programs and guidelines in both Cass and Berrien counties. She was active in the Delta Kappa Gamma education sorority on both the local and regional levels.

She was a member of the Pokagon United Methodist Church and had formerly been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dowagiac and Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.

Her greatest interest was caring for her family.

On June 16, 1962 at the Federated Church in Dowagiac, she married Richard Muessig with whom she celebrated the 49th anniversary of that wedding last year.

She is survived by her husband, Pastor Richard Muessig and by their children Andrea (Todd) Cook of Battle Creek and Patrick (Carey) Muessig of Paw Paw; grandchildren Avery Cook, Claudia Muessig and Brenden Muessig; her brother and sisters Jacqueline (Herb) Burden, Ph.D. of Traverse City, Tom Hale of Dowagiac and Linda Weber, Ph.D. of Los Angeles, Calif. and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Patricia Jo Muessig will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church in Dowagiac with the Rev. John Kasper of the church and the Rev. Patricia Haas of Pokagon United Methodist Church officiating.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Contributions in memory of Pat may be made to the Martha Hale Scholarship Fund at Southwestern Michigan College or to an organization of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.