Patrou, John P. (1929-2022)

PATROU, GERBER, ETTER, PAPPAJOHN, NEDVED

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 7/21/2022 at 15:47:55

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
March 17, 2022

John P. Patrou (age 92) died on February 21, 2022 in Eloy, Arizona and will be buried at Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, Iowa.

John, son of Peter and Kanella Patrou, was born on November 5, 1929. He graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1947. He attended Webster City Junior College and graduated from Iowa State University in 1952 with a B.S. degree in Engineering. He spent his entire career in the home appliance industry starting with the Beam Manufacturing Company which took him to Bloomington Indiana, Cambridge Ontario, Montreal Quebec, Grand Rapids Michigan and retired as Electrolux Group Vice-President of North American Laundry and Dishwasher Products in 1985. Upon retiring, John moved to Arizona where he enjoyed the opportunity to play golf every day, as well as attending the University of Arizona football and basketball games as a season ticket holder.

His interests were family, church, sports and his work. With family and friends, he enjoyed playing golf, tennis, downhill skiing and fishing. He had a strong sense of community, where he served as past president of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce, President of the Webster City Country Club, Board of Directors of the Iowa Manufacturers Association, and Chairman of the U.S. Laundry Association.

He was married in the Greek Orthodox Church to Marilyn Gerber in 1959, and to Jan Etter in 1990.

He took pride in high school where he earned seven letters in sports and was elected captain several times. At Iowa State, he made the freshman basketball first-team before retiring from his sports career to concentrate on his studies. Also at Iowa State, he earned academic awards in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Engineering.

John is preceded in death by his father, mother, wife Marilyn Patrou, brother Ted Patrou, brother-in-law Socrates Pappajohn, and cousin George Patrou. He is survived by sister-in-law Beverly Patrou, sister Elaine Pappajohn, brother Harry Patrou, wife Jan Patrou and three children Peter Patrou, Susan Nedved, Michael Patrou and five grandchildren.