Neena Pacholke, a 3-point specialist, TV news anchor, Packers fan, cat lover and coffee fanatic has died suddenly. She died at age 27.
Pacholke’s sudden death was announced by WAOW who revealed that she died Saturday, Aug. 27.
Pacholke’s sister Kaitlynn confirmed that Pacholke, who was working as a weekday-morning news anchor in Wisconsin and was engaged to be married, died by suicide.
Pacholke was a former USF women’s basketball player who helped lead Freedom High to the program’s only state tournament berth in 2013.
A point guard and team captain at Freedom, Pacholke averaged nearly four assists a game as a senior for the Patriots, coached by her mom, Laurie.
The team, whose roster included no fewer than three players who would play at the Division I level, finished 25-4 and fell to Gainesville Buchholz in the Class 7A state semifinals in Lakeland.
Pacholke lettered three seasons at USF (2013-2016) and cultivated her Packers devotion while working at ABC television affiliate WAOW in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Pacholke is survived by her mom, sister, fiance and father, Aaron.