Roberta Patrick 1916-2004

REIMERS, PATRICK

Posted By: Michael (email)
Date: 2/17/2004 at 13:26:09

Roberta Patrick, of Iowa City, passed away on February 16, 2004. Born Mary Roberta Reimers on January 9, 1916, in Ft. Madison, IA., her parents were Dr. Robert and Clara Reimers. Following high school in Ft. Madison, Roberta attended the University of Iowa, where she met and married Dr. Bernard F. Patrick in 1937. The couple lived in Iowa City, where Dr. Patrick taught in the Dental School, and at various locations in the US during Dr. Patrick’s service in the Army Air Corps. They returned to Iowa City, where Dr. Patrick practiced dentistry until his death in 1953.

A memorial service is planned at the First Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m., on Friday, April 16, 2004. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, to Longfellow School, or to Elderly Services, Inc., 28 S. Linn St.., #298, Iowa City, IA.

Roberta had a long and distinguished career of public service to the Iowa City Community, beginning as a volunteer reading books to severely burned patients at Children’s Hospital. She was Executive Secretary of Community Givers, the predecessor to United Way. She was a member, and president, of the Iowa City School Board, where she was involved in the planning and bonding approval for West High. She was a founding member of Legal Services in Johnson County, serving on its Board and the Board of Iowa Legal Services. She also served on the Board of Elderly Services for Johnson County. Other volunteer activities included the Cub Scouts and City High’s Red and White Carnival.

A long time resident of the Longfellow School District, Roberta found special joy in recent years working as a library assistant at several area elementary schools, primarily Longfellow, as a participant in the Green Thumb program. She truly enjoyed reading to and assisting the students and was enormously fond of the School’s faculty and staff.

A lifelong Presbyterian, Roberta served as a Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church and an Elder of the Presbyterian Church in Iowa. Roberta was also a member of Altrusa and of Athens History Circle.

Survivors include her brother, John Reimers, and his wife, Sue, of Ellisville, MO.; three children, Robert, and his wife, Sheila, of Arlington, VA., Jay, and his wife, Lynda, of O’Fallon, IL., and Mary Elizabeth, of Austin, TX.; six grandchildren, John, and his wife, Kris, of Woodburn, Ore., Laura, and her husband, Jacob Dancer, of Chicago, IL., Amy, of Belleville, IL., Kimberly Donahue, and her husband, Keith, of Shiloh, IL., Beth York, and her husband, Robb, of Lake Orion, Mich., and Patrick Patten, of Phoenix, AZ.; and three great grandchildren, Cameron Donahue, Grace and Davis York.