Pamela Jean Neubauer

Pam Neubauer died on June 19, 2021 after a 5 year battle with Multiple Myeloma. Pam was born on October 23, 1951 in Appleton, WI to the late Harry and Dolly (Potratz) Reffke. She graduated from Appleton East High School in 1970 and went on to complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. A dedicated educator and lifelong learner, she completed advanced training to become a reading specialist and literacy coach. She taught for 35 years, including 32 with the Appleton Area School District, where she continued to work as a substitute teacher for several years following her retirement in 2009. On August 14, 1976, she married Bill Neubauer a year after the couple met on a blind date set up by friends. In 1989, Pam was named Mother of the Year by the Appleton Post-Crescent.

Pam had a passion for gardening, participating in the Outagamie County Master Gardeners and showcasing her “Neubauers’ Garden of Reading,” which incorporated many literacy themed decorations amongst the flowers, in two garden walk charitable fundraisers in 2014 and 2018. In recent years, Pam would claim she intended to cut back on the number of flowers she planted only to add even more. She inherited her green thumb from her own mother with whom she is now tending the gardens in heaven.

Throughout her life, Pam often embraced new hobbies and activities. She enjoyed craft projects, musical theater, shopping with her sister for a good deal, reading, decorating her home for every holiday and seasonal change, and catching glimpses of the orioles and cardinals at her bird feeders. She loved animals and raised several dogs and cats. For 14 years, Pam spent many days with her horse, Fred, riding the trails, training, and caring for him. She was an active member of Eternal Love Lutheran Church, serving on various committees and singing in the choir. Spending time with her two young grandsons always brought a smile to her face.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Pam will be deeply missed by her loving husband of nearly 45 years, Bill; daughters, Rebecca Neubauer (Gabriel Gervey), Austin, Texas and Lindsay Neubauer, Appleton; and two grandsons, Micah, and Levi Gervey. She is further survived by her sister, Gail Meredith, Cecil, and brother, Wayne Reffke (Martha Bennett), Naples, FL; sister-in-law, Jan (John) Dahlke, Weyauwega; nephews, Tim (Lisa) Meredith, Steve (Deborah) Meredith, and Jon (Heather) Dahlke; and niece, Bethany Dahlke, as well as other family and friends.

Besides her parents, Pam was preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Alice Neubauer, father-in-law, Pete Neubauer, brother-in-law, Toby Meredith, sister-in-law, Marj Prokop, and niece, Noel Dahlke.

Friends are invited to gather with the family from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at Eternal Love Lutheran Church, 1011 E. Midway Road, Appleton. The Christian Memorial Service for Pam will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 11:00 am at Eternal Love with the Rev. Robert Balza officiating. There will also be a gathering at the church prior to the service on Friday from 9:30 - 10:45 am. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Appleton. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that memorials in Pam’s name be made to the Appleton Education Foundation (122 E. College Ave. Ste. 1B, Appleton, WI 54911) to support the United for Reading Success Program Fund.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses of the cancer centers at St. Elizabeth and Froedtert hospitals who took such good care of Pam during her illness.