Fitzpatrick, T. H. (1922-2009)

FITZPATRICK, WELLS, MAHON, CAHILL, JOENS, BARRY, SIELA

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/20/2009 at 21:44:06

T.H. Fitzpatrick - Jan. 28, 1922 - July 09, 2009

Storm Lake, Iowa
Thomas Hughes Fitzpatrick, 87, passed away on July 9, 2009. Services were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake at 10:30 am on Monday, July 13. Parish prayers services were held at Fratzke and Jensen funeral home in Storm Lake on Sunday afternoon from 4-8pm with family present. A memorial fund has been established in honor of T.H. Fitzpatrick.

Thomas Hughes Fitzpatrick, son of Michael Charles and Elizabeth “Bess” Fitzpatrick, was born January 28, 1922 in Storm Lake, IA. T.H. attended St. Mary’s High School and graduated in 1938. He entered service in the United States Navy as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate, Third Class, in 1942, and was stationed at Barber’s Point in Hawaii until honorably discharged in 1946.

Upon return to Storm Lake, he began work at Dlugosch Motors, Inc. in 1946 as a mechanic under the G.I. bill. On November 26, 1947, he was united in marriage with Naomi Wells at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Fonda, IA. They were married 52 years until her death in 2000, and were lifelong residents of Storm Lake.

To this union, six children were born: Mary Beth Mahon, Thomas Wells Fitzpatrick, Donna Jean Cahill, Colleen Fitzpatrick Joens, William Lloyd Fitzpatrick, and Donald Joseph Fitzpatrick.

On July 6, 1959, T.H. opened Fitzpatrick Chevrolet-Buick with 11 employees. He was actively involved in managing and growing the business until his retirement in 1984. He continued to support his two sons, Tom and Bill, as they carried on the family dealership.

T.H. was very active in the Knights of Columbus as a fourth-degree knight, participated on building committees for the rectory at St. Mary’s Church. In addition, he was a generous contributor to many other needs at St. Mary’s School and Church. T.H. was a major donor to many community projects, including the Lake Preservation Association, the Highway 71 Lighthouse Project, and the Awaysis Project.

While raising his children, T.H. and his family spent endless hours enjoying boating, snowmobiling and ice skating on Storm Lake, and racing in all forms, from drag cars to NASCAR. He was an avid golfer until recent years, and was involved with Lake Creek Country Club and its various projects. Tom and his wife travelled extensively to Hawaii, Australia, Ireland, England, the Caribbean, Tahiti, Puerto Rico, and many places throughout the United States.

T.H. was preceded in death by his wife, Naomi, a daughter, Margo Anne, his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, his brother, Bob Fitzpatrick, and his wife, Marigene Fitzpatrick. He is survived by his six children and their spouses, Mary Beth and Charles Mahon of Kansas City, MO, Tom and Susan Fitzpatrick of Storm Lake, Donna Jean and Tim Cahill of Pensacola, FL, Colleen and Douglas Joens of Minneapolis, MN, Bill and Pat Fitzpatrick of Storm Lake, and Donald and Sherri Fitzpatrick of Ankeny, IA, ten grandsons, six granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter. He is also survived by his brother, Joe, and wife Josephine Fitzpatrick of West Des Moines, IA, and his sister, Patricia, and husband Tom Barry of Danbury, IA, his sisters-in-law, Anne Wells and Kathryn Siela, his brother-in-law, Orville Wells, all of Fonda, IA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. July 12, 2009 at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. July 13, 2009 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake, Iowa
Vigil Service: 7:30 p.m. July 12, 2009 at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa
Interment: July 13, 2009 at The Fitzpatrick Ancestral Estate at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Storm Lake, Iowa

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