Patricia A. Whyte, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home, on Friday, October 30, 2026.

Born on February 3, 1943, Pat lived a rich, unconventional, and deeply creative life. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Painting with a Minor in Anthropology from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1965. From 1966 to 1970, Pat lived and traveled widely in Western Europe as well as Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece and North Africa.

An accomplished sculptor, painter, and doll maker, her work was widely exhibited across Michigan and Wisconsin, including the Madison Arts Center. She was a teacher of life drawing, portraiture, painting, and children’s drawing. With her then-husband John F. Lehman, Pat owned Gate of Horn, an art gallery in Whitehall, Michigan. In addition to running the gallery, Pat enjoyed traveling and exhibiting her work at art shows. When not creating, Pat was busy in her role as Art Director of the art department at Blue Lake Community School of the Arts in Whitehall.

A move to Madison, Wisconsin led to an unexpected and highly successful second career for Pat – real estate sales. Over the course of her lengthy career at Restaino & Associates, Pat leveraged her natural problem-solving skills and creative flair to assist her clients – many of them artists and academics. She was a unique person drawn to other unique people. Her peers appreciated Pat’s quirkiness, humor and ability to calmly work through complicated transactions. Over the years, many novice realtors would hang in Pat’s office doorway seeking her sage advice.

Her friends loved to tease her about having spent time in a convent when she was 17, mostly to escape an alcoholic home environment and a chaotic household. Her independent spirit and refusal to conform (qualities that defined her unconventional life) led to her early departure from the convent. Later in life, she found the Unitarians, and although never a "joiner," Pat frequented Unitarian churches in Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin. The Unitarian Fellowship literally saved her life in April 2004 when she suffered an aortic aneurysm across the street from the UW Hospital, and a young couple attending services took her to the nearby emergency room.

The natural beauty and plentiful art galleries of Door County were a magnet for Pat. After many years of visiting, she purchased a log cabin home in Ellison Bay. “Whytefyshe” was Pat’s place to recharge. After stressful real estate closings, Pat would load up her Subaru, tune the radio to NPR, and make the long drive north to her refuge in the woods near the Mink River.

Not far from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin near Madison, Pat fell in love with a small schoolhouse and converted it into a gallery and artist retreat which she operated for several years. One of Pat’s proudest accomplishments was connected to Wright’s famous Falling Water house, where she was invited to give a talk on Wright’s architecture from an artist’s perspective.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Harry A. Whyte and Marjorie Cranmer; step-father, Bud Cranmer; former husband and father of her two children, John F. Lehman; sister, Dana Cranmer; brother, Michael Whyte; and beloved sister, Pam Krogman.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Pamela Dillon; devoted son, John K. Lehman; and dear grandchild, Reinn E. Dillon.

The family would like to send a special thank you and personal message of deep gratitude to Buzzy Hetzer, Pat’s best friend, for all of her love and support, as well as to many others that have sent their condolences.

Pat was wonderfully eccentric, magical, a bit melancholy, and sometimes stern (though not hostile). Her art and style were unforgettable – she was most noted for her fabulous collection of earrings and striking glasses. In addition to her professional pursuits, she held a deep passion for vibrant colors and found immense joy in her basement art studio, where she spent countless hours painting. Pat loved intrigue and mystery as much as she loved to laugh, and she lived life on her own terms. Her favorite motto was often included in her writings to friends: “Kindness is Crucial.”

A celebration of life for Pat will be held at a future date with details provided by the family. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Patricia Whyte

February 03, 1943 - October 30, 2026

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