Patrick Girard (1947-2001)

GIRARD

Posted By: Patrick Turner (email)
Date: 2/24/2003 at 23:18:54

Thursday, February 8, 2001

Underwood

In Memory: Patrick Girard

Patrick D. Girard, 53, former principal of Underwood Elementary School, died February 2 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

Mr. Girard was born on August 18, 1947 in Concordia, Kansas, to Leo and Frances (McColligan) Girard. He was a graduate of Cathedral Grade School and Heelan High School in Sioux City.

He attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa California and later graduated from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City. He, received a master's degree in education From the University of South Dakota.

After serving in the Air National Guard, he accepted his first teaching position with St. Mary's Elementary School in Storm Lake.

His next assignment was at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City, followed by posts at Gehlen Catholic High School in LeMars, and Lawton-Bronson School in Bronson.

Mr. Girard spent the last 12 years of his career in education serving as principal of Underwood Elementary School.

Survivors include his parents; two sons, Brian and his wife Gina of Bothell, Washington and Scott and his wife Jodi of Gladbrook; one daughter, Amy Hill and her husband Derrick of Kenosha, Wisconsin; two brothers, Lee and his wife Trese of Sergeant Bluff and Tom and his wife Sheryl of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; six sisters, Terry Rees and her husband Duane of Bellevue, Washington, Mary Mueller of Sioux City, Anne Jackson and her husband Larry of Spirit Lake, Cecilia Geary and her husband Nick of Davenport, Barbara Bernard and her husband Glen of Kenmore, Washington and Christine Dekker and her husband Brian of Sioux City; and three grandchildren.

No visitation was planned. A wake service was held Monday at 7 p.m. at the West Center chapel of lIeafey Hoffman Dworak Cutler Mortuaries in Omaha:

A memorial Mass was held Tuesday at 10 A.M. at Sacred Catholic Church in Omaha, with the Rev. Thomas Fangman officiating.

There was also to be a wake service Wednesday evening at 7 P.M. at Larkin Northside Chapel in Sioux City, followed by a memorial mass Thursday at 10 A.M. at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

Memorials may be directed to the Underwood Elementary School Library Fund. Among Girard's accomplishments at the school was the establishment of the Principal's 100 program to encourage students in reading.