1924
Patricia
2017
Patricia Patter
June 16, 1924 — March 15, 2017
Patricia Van Patter of Eldora passed away Wednesday, March 15, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, IA. She was 92.
She was born June 16, 1924, to Leo and Eugenia Harrison Wolcott. She graduated from Eldora High School in 1942 and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. On July 26, 1945, she married Keith Van Patter of Eldora at First Congregational Church in Eldora.
Keith was serving in the U.S. Army at the time of their marriage, and the couple lived for a few months in Massachusetts at the end of World War II. Following his discharge, they returned to Iowa where Keith went into farming northwest of Eldora. They moved into Eldora in 1961 after Keith was elected Hardin County Recorder. In 1972, they moved to the Van Patter home farm northwest of Eldora.
Pat was a faithful lifelong member of First Congregational Church in Eldora, and a lifetime member of the PEO Sisterhood. She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother as well as a wonderful homemaker and cook. As long as she was able, she sewed and knitted beautiful clothing for her family. She loved her garden and enjoyed canning and freezing the results. She loved to travel and enjoyed fishing and boating trips with her family. Keith and Pat traveled extensively on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle. After attending her first Iowa football game in 1967, she was an avid Hawkeye the remainder of her life.
She was active in bridge groups, Mother's Club, Women's Fellowship at her church where she served as president, and as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was in her 78th year of singing in the First Congregational church choir.
Pat is survived by her daughter Lin (Harley) Thornton of Des Moines and her son Dennis Van Patter of Lakewood, CO, as well as granddaughter Ann (Dustin) Mars and their children Olivia, Braden, Addison, and Macy, all of West Des Moines, and her granddaughter Kelli (Jim) Kirkman and their children Max, Claire, and Ruby, all of Clive. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Becky Wolcott of Eldora and nieces Beth Walker of Artesia, NM, Claudia Wolcott of Krugerville, TX, Suzanne Marks of Albuquerque, NM, and Jennifer Norlin of Albuquerque, NM, as well as her nephew Rick (Kari) Wolcott of Eldora and many great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Keith, her brother Harrison Wolcott, her sister-in-law Doris Van Patter, her nephew Rod Wolcott, and her great niece Rylee Wolcott.
Pat's visitation will be held at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eldora on Wednesday, March 22, at 9:30 a.m. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the church. Inurnment will take place at Eldora City Cemetery following the luncheon.
The family suggests that memorials be directed to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1209 12th St., Eldora, IA, 50627.
She was born June 16, 1924, to Leo and Eugenia Harrison Wolcott. She graduated from Eldora High School in 1942 and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. On July 26, 1945, she married Keith Van Patter of Eldora at First Congregational Church in Eldora.
Keith was serving in the U.S. Army at the time of their marriage, and the couple lived for a few months in Massachusetts at the end of World War II. Following his discharge, they returned to Iowa where Keith went into farming northwest of Eldora. They moved into Eldora in 1961 after Keith was elected Hardin County Recorder. In 1972, they moved to the Van Patter home farm northwest of Eldora.
Pat was a faithful lifelong member of First Congregational Church in Eldora, and a lifetime member of the PEO Sisterhood. She was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother as well as a wonderful homemaker and cook. As long as she was able, she sewed and knitted beautiful clothing for her family. She loved her garden and enjoyed canning and freezing the results. She loved to travel and enjoyed fishing and boating trips with her family. Keith and Pat traveled extensively on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle. After attending her first Iowa football game in 1967, she was an avid Hawkeye the remainder of her life.
She was active in bridge groups, Mother's Club, Women's Fellowship at her church where she served as president, and as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was in her 78th year of singing in the First Congregational church choir.
Pat is survived by her daughter Lin (Harley) Thornton of Des Moines and her son Dennis Van Patter of Lakewood, CO, as well as granddaughter Ann (Dustin) Mars and their children Olivia, Braden, Addison, and Macy, all of West Des Moines, and her granddaughter Kelli (Jim) Kirkman and their children Max, Claire, and Ruby, all of Clive. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Becky Wolcott of Eldora and nieces Beth Walker of Artesia, NM, Claudia Wolcott of Krugerville, TX, Suzanne Marks of Albuquerque, NM, and Jennifer Norlin of Albuquerque, NM, as well as her nephew Rick (Kari) Wolcott of Eldora and many great nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Keith, her brother Harrison Wolcott, her sister-in-law Doris Van Patter, her nephew Rod Wolcott, and her great niece Rylee Wolcott.
Pat's visitation will be held at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eldora on Wednesday, March 22, at 9:30 a.m. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the church. Inurnment will take place at Eldora City Cemetery following the luncheon.
The family suggests that memorials be directed to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1209 12th St., Eldora, IA, 50627.
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