(Photo) (Veteran)

Frank N. Patterson, age 81, died January 6, 2017, at Dunklau Gardens in Fremont. Frank N. Patterson was born March 22, 1935, in Colcord, Oklahoma, the son of Ira and Opal (Henderson) Patterson. Frank was raised in Webb City, Missouri until enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1953. He served aboard the U.S.S. America, U.S.S. Independence, and various duty stations worldwide throughout 20 years of naval service. He saw combat in Vietnam 1969-70 while serving as a hospital corpsman with the 1st Marine Division. He met his wife, Tsuruko, while stationed on the island of Okinawa and was married in Tokyo, Japan in 1963. Frank retired from the Navy in 1973. He then went on to work in the law enforcement and nuclear maintenance fields. He made his home in Blair in 1985.

Frank was a member of the Blair VFW Post 1251, Blair American Legion Post 154, and Fleet Reserve Association, branch 276 in Omaha.

Frank is survived by his wife, Tsuruko Patterson, of Blair; children: Linda Powell, Susan Patterson and Richard Patterson, all of Blair, Patty Butler of Joplin, MO; siblings: Shirley Warren of Oklahoma City, OK, and Dorothy Johnson of Tulsa, OK; along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Nancy McMillen; son, David Patterson; and sister, Mary Freese.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair, followed by burial in the Blair Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday at Campbell Aman Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~ FindaGrave # 175072312