(veteran)

Services for Robert E. “Pat” Patterson, 68 of Spencer, Iowa who died August 8, 1991 suddenly at the Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton, Iowa were Monday, August 12 at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. Dr. Richard L. Person officiated. Burial was in the Nishanabotna Township Cemetery in Manilla, Iowa. Military services were done by Manilla Legion Post No. 132.

Robert Earl “Pat” Patterson, son of Karl and Irene Zahl was born January 10, 1923 in Omaha. He spent his ealy years at the children’s Square House in Council Bluffs before moving to Buffalo Center.

After graduating from high school, he attended and graduated from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. He then taught and coached in Manilla High School for one year before joining the Navy in 1945. Following his discharge in 1947, he continued his military career with the Army, both on active and reserve duty.

He married Lorraine McCracken in Manilla, August 15, 1948. Throughout their marriage they made their home in the Spencer community where he had served as mayor. For many years, he was a rural mail carrier before retiring in 1986.

He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and the Methodist Men, the Mason Abu Bekr Shrine, Spencer Area Shrine Club, York Rite, Consistory, American Legion, Golden K Kiwanis and the Salvation Army. He also served on the Board of Sunset Apartments, was active in Little League Baseball and was a member of the Rural Letter Carriers Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Clinton Zahl.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Sara Patterson of Vinton, Iowa; three daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Reg Wulf of Blair, Shelly and Mark Anderson of Omaha and Kay and Mitch McCann of Arlington, Texas; seven grandchildren; one brother, Ray Ecklund of Arlington, Texas; one sister, Nettie Cornish of Salome, Arizona and nieces and nephews near Walla Walla, Washington.

Casketbearers were Gene Bryson, Bob Porter, Mark Clifford, George Seizer, Dan Maxwell and Bill Chambers.

Honorary bearers were Milt Warner, Bob Carlson, Glenn Neve, Maynard McCormick, Clifford Schurmann, Dr. George Fieselmann, Bob Nelson and Ben Shine.

Memorials may go to the Children’s Square Home of Council Bluffs.

Warner Funeral Home in Spencer, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.