Patricia Ann "Pat" Stang

Patricia Ann Thummel Stang, 80, died at home of acute myeloblastic leukemia on August 18, 2026. She was born on March 3, 1946, in Hays, Kansas.

Pat grew up in Plainville, Kansas where she was surrounded by an extended family. Her cousins were her best friends, and she maintained a close relationship with them throughout her life. After graduating from Plainville High School, she attended Fort Hays State College where she met Jerry Stang. They married in 1966 and had four children. Jerry and Pat moved multiple times throughout their marriage and finally retired in Yukon, Oklahoma in 2001.

Pat’s first vocation and greatest joy was in being a wife, mother, grandma, and great grandma. She supported Jerry in his careers as a high school English teacher and coach, then in pharmaceutical sales, and in his “side gig” helping people with resume and interview prep. He literally would not have experienced his many successes without Pat’s excellent administrative skills, turning his chaotic genius into beautiful order.

Her four children can also attribute any success they have had to their mom’s servant heart. Pat never missed a piano recital, band concert, or sporting event. She and Jerry made sure the kids grew up knowing the value of a good education and hard work, with a healthy dose of art appreciation, especially for books and movies. From homework help to a game of catch in the front yard, there is no doubt that stay-at-home parents provide more value than they could ever earn, and Pat set a very high standard.

No grandchild has known more love and compassion than Pat’s grandkids. When things were at their most difficult for her kids, she always stepped in to make sure the little ones were taken care of. And when things were at their best, like holidays and other family celebrations, she made sure that every single person (in what has grown to be a big crowd) knew that they, specifically, were well loved.

Pat also maintained connections with friends and extended family by sending cards for every occasion. She made routine trips to Dollar Tree to hand pick cards for each person, and typically included a few dollars. Her list was extensive and included great nieces and nephews. She was also the organizer and keeper of the Stang family genealogy. Her update emails to huge groups of Thummels and Stangs will surely be missed by everyone who knew they could count on her to keep them connected.

Jerry and Pat were always very involved at their parishes, wherever they lived. Pat was the quintessential “Church Lady” who knew what needed to be done and how to do it. At their last parish, St. John Nepomuk in Yukon, she was blessed to serve as an officer with the Altar Society and as a founding member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary. She participated in all of the adult Bible studies, was a member of the RCIA hospitality team, and gave many hours in service to Manna Pantry, where she made so many dear friends. If there was something happening at the parish, you would most likely see Pat working in the background, making sure everything went smoothly.

Pat's family is deeply grateful for the assistance and support of caretakers with the Stephenson Cancer Center, including Dr. Manu Pandey and his whole team, and Mercy Home Hospice. She spent many hours at the OU Outpatient Infusion Clinic over the last two and a half years, and came to love many of their wonderful staff as well as some fellow patients. Sharon Buckley, Joan Marrs, and Sandy Adams contributed so much to the quality of Pat’s life throughout her treatment, driving her to and from the clinic and staying with her through hours of treatment. Pat loved them dearly.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Thummel and Mary (Toelkes) Thummel, and her husband, Clement Gerald “Jerry” Stang.

She is survived by siblings Carol Thummel, Jane Pruter, and Mike Thummel and his wife Patti, and by her four children: Ann Cook, Jennifer Calvert and her husband Barry, Ed Stang and his wife Sharla, and Adam Stang and his wife Robyn. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Joshua Cook and his wife Shannon, Kaylee Hoang and her husband Daniel, Allison Maguire and her husband Conor, Lucas Cook and his wife Rabeca, Rebecca Stang and her husband Thomas, Tabitha Stang, Andrew Stang, Ryan Stang and his wife Michelle, Sarah Denham and her husband Blake, and Emma Stang. She had the great joy of knowing and loving seven great-grandchildren: Alexander (Xander) Cook, Nathaniel Cook, Lakely Stang, Sophie Denham, Oaklee Stang, Bohdie Denham, and Penelope Maguire. Pat was also honored to be the loving Step Grandmother to ten grandchildren, and their spouses and children.

There will be a Vigil at 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 30 and a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM on Monday, August 31. Both services will be held at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, in Yukon. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Pat’s name to the St. John Nepomuk Altar Society, the Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary Legacy Scholarship supporting youth discipleship, or the St. John Nepomuk Building Fund.

Services can be viewed online at the following links:

Vigil services - https://www.youtube.com/live/R78wpYBieJ8

Funeral Mass - https://youtube.com/live/QVh5RoGc4Ow?feature=share