Patricia “Pat” Kwallek, who served for many years as editor of the Grant County Herald Independent, died last month, the Lancaster newspaper reports. She was 88.
Born in 1933, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Gillen. She grew up in Lancaster and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1951.
Pat and Albert Kwallek were married in June 1951. Together they had several children and grandchildren.
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Kwallek started at the Grant County Independent in the 1950s, stayed on through the merger with the Grant County Herald and remained with the newspaper in various roles until her retirement in 1986.
During more than 30 years with the Herald Independent, Kwallek served as a reporter, columnist, editor and photographer. She also was a correspondent for The Capital Times in the 1960s and 1970s, writing stories and shooting photos of Lancaster-area news for the Madison newspaper.
Following her retirement, Kwallek served as an ambassador for the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce. As part of the role, she wrote a column for the chamber’s newsletter.
Kwallek’s family is planning to celebrate her life sometime in the spring.
