WILBUR PATTEN
Funeral services for Wilbur Patten, 86, of
Aurelia, will be 10:30 Thursday, March 17, 2005, at the First
Congregational Church in Aurelia with Pastor Bruce Rapp officiating.
Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Aurelia. Visitation
will be Wednesday from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with the family present
from 6:00 to 8:00, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia.
Wilbur Thomas Patten was born on February
22, 1919 in Rembrandt, Iowa, the son of William and Charlotte (Lanham)
Patten. Wilbur graduated from the Aurelia High School in 1937. He
farmed with his father until he entered the US Army in January of 1942
where he served until October of 1945. Wilbur was united in marriage
to Naomi Jeckell on July 27, 1942 in Wee Kurk of the Heather in Las
Vegas, NV, while stationed in California with the Army. They had two
sons, William Thomas and Michael Sidney. After the service, he began
farming near Larrabee, IA. Later he farmed south of Aurelia until he
retired from farming in 1977. He then worked at the Aurelia Coop in
the Feed Mill until 1985. Wilbur was a lifelong member of the First
Congregational Church in Aurelia serving on several church boards, was
a member of the Alta VFW and the Grashoff-McManus American Legion Post
#390 of Aurelia. He enjoyed creating wood projects for family and
friends. Wilbur died on Sunday, March 13, 2005 at the Sunset Knoll
Retirement Home in Aurelia where he was a resident since December 9,
2004.
Preceding Wilbur in death were his
parents, two brothers, Lloyd and Billy, two brothers-in-law, Irving
Peterson and Oren Coombs, and sister-in-law, Betty Patten.
Survivors include his wife Naomi Patten of
Aurelia, two sons, Michael and his wife Sheryl Patten of Spencer and
William and his wife Rosalee Patten of Clemons, IA, six grandchildren,
Nicholas and his wife Kathi Patten, Tyler Patten, Lee and his wife
Rachel Patten, Alicia Patten, Brandon Patten and Devin Patten, and two
great-grandchildren, Mollee Patten and Mark Patten. Also surviving
are two sisters, Mildred Peterson of Mason City, IA, and Marian Coombs
of Aurelia, one brother Robert Patten of Ankeny, sister-in-law, Sally
Patten of Carroll, IA, several nieces, nephews, other relatives and
friends.