Pamela Kay Pletsch

Middleton -- Pamela Kay Pletsch, age 59, of Middleton, passed away on Sunday Mar 29, 2009 after a courageous three year fight with breast cancer. Pam was born January 2, 1950 in McNabb, IL.   She is survived by her husband Rick Lovell, two daughters Erin and Bridget, her mother Bernice Loesch and step-dad Don Loesch of McNabb, IL.   She was preceded in death by her father Leonard Pletsch and her brother Leonard Pletsch. Pam was one of the nation's leaders in nursing research.   She attended the University of Iowa (BSN), the University of Colorado (MSN), and the University of Illinois at Chicago (Ph.D.).   Pam practiced as an OB nurse.   She was a faculty member first at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing, then at the School of Nursing - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and finally at the School of Nursing - University of Wisconsin Madison.   Pam produced many publications, led many projects, and received many grants, most focused on health promotion and smoking cessation for women.   Among other awards, she received the Wisconsin Nurses Association Outstanding Research Achievement Award.   At her death Pam was principal investigator of a multi-million dollar federal grant uniting teams from UW Madison and Duke University to address problems of smoking and smoking cessation among pregnant women. Visitation is planned for Thursday, April 2, 2009 from 4 PM to 6 PM at CRESS FUNERAL SERVICE, 6021 University Ave.   Burial will take place in McNabb, IL on Monday, Apr 6. Pam was a Chi Omega.   She loved Cosmo, a loyal wire-haired fox terrier.