Harry George Patten 1908-2004

PATTEN, ORR, SHERWOOD, KEEFE, KENNETT, ELLISON, HOYLAND, JOHNSON, SHELTON, RASMUSSEN, SCHACHTERLE, BOWMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/5/2008 at 10:17:18

BLAIRSTOWN, IA

Harry Patten, 96, of Brooklyn, formerly of Blairstown, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, in Brookhaven Nursing Home, Brooklyn, after a brief illness.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Grace United Methodist Church, Brooklyn, by the Rev. David Rogula. Burial: Hartwick Cemetery, Hartwick. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Overton Funeral Home, Blairstown, and from 10 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church.

Harry George Patten was born Oct. 19, 1908, on a farm near Brooklyn, Iowa, the son of Alfred and Daisy (Orr) Patten. He started his education in country school and graduated from Brooklyn High School in 1927. On Nov. 25, 1932, Harry married Marietta Sherwood Keefe in Sigourney. Harry worked over the years in the selling of livestock feed, grain and produce. He then worked as a USDA egg inspector for eight years. During this time, he lived in Oskaloosa, Maquoketa, Reedsburg, Wis., and Victor.

Marietta preceded him in death on May 3, 1977. Harry then moved to live in the funeral home in Blairstown for 23 years. He worked for the families of Van Beck, Russell and more recently the Overton family in the funeral home. Harry retired Fev. 25, 2000 and moved to Brookhaven Nursing Home in Brooklyn.

He was a lifetime member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees and Blairstown Lions Club. While in Lions Club, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award.

Harry always enjoyed the chance to visit with anyone and was very proud of his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marietta; two brothers, Howard and Jack Patten; two sisters, Gladys and Virgie Patten; two sons, Wayne Keefe and Dean Patten; and a special friend, Viola Kennett.

Harry is survived by a son, Don (Becky) Keefe of Phoenix; two daughters-in-law, Donna Keefe Ellison of Oskaloosa and Jeane Patten Hoyland of Holland, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Kevin (Deb) Keefe, Karen (Monte) Johnson, MeMe (Mark) Shelton, Jeff Keefe, Kirk (Tina) Patten, Lyle Patten (Sue Rasmussen) and Kristi (Larry) Schachterle; 10 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Bowman of Pine Bluff, Wyo.; and multiple nieces and nephews.

Harry's smile will be greatly missed.

A memorial fund has been established.

Condolences may be left at the Web site, www.overtonservicse.com