Patricia Ward

Monday, January 16, 2017 5:59 pm

Patricia Ward, 77, of Decorah, died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at her home near Decorah. Services were at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating. Organist was Marcia Engebretson. Soloist was Dan Silhacek (“Goin’ Home”). Hymns were “Hymn of Promise” and “Good Night and Good Morning.” Interment was at Haney Ridge Cemetery at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18, in rural Boscobel, Wis.

Patricia Ann Ward, was born March 11, 1939, the third daughter of Roy E. and Velva V. (Dillman) Groom, in Boscobel, Wis. Pat attended grade school in Steuben, Wis. and graduated from Boscobel High School. She then attended Whitewater State College in Whitewater, Wis. Pat was united in marriage to Larry Ward March 30, 1957, in the Little Brown Church, Nashua. To this union three children were born: Mark, Dawn and David. They moved to Decorah in 1961, and Pat worked for 46 years at Luther College, where she retired in 2008. She worked in the office of dining services and four years (1967-71) at the information desk. Pat led a very full life working and caring for their son David, attending sporting events for her children and in later years, her grandchildren, knitting Norwegian sweaters (five in one year), crocheting, antiquing with her husband and close friends, Ken and Marie Gumz. Flower beds, gardening, and stained glass were also enjoyed hobbies. In later years, she became a race fan watching her grandson race. Pat was a member of First Lutheran Church.

Pat is survived by her two children, Mark (Lisa) Ward, Albertville, Minn. and Dawn (Dave) Tollefson, Decorah; grandchildren: David Tollefson, Amy Halweg, Michael (Renda) Tollefson, Melissa (Scott) Clement, Jason (Amanda) Ward, Brett (Tonya) Ward, Cory Brannan, Tad Brannan, Will (Anita) Brannan; great-grandchildren: Ryan, Jenna and Emma Ayers, Madison, McKenzie and Meison Tollefson, Isabella, Landon and Abby Clement, Samantha and Jaxon Ward, Owen and Lillie Ward, McKell, Elliott and Quinlan Brannan, Hunter and Aiden Brannan, Bryce, Daelyn, Brynli, and Nolan Brannan; also, one sister, Mary Lund of Boscobel, Wis.; sisters in law, Ruth (Fritz) Reiger and Ida Ward; brother in law, Oliver Griswold; and special lifelong friends, Ken and Marie Gumz, Sparta, Wis.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by her son, David, March 3, 1994; her husband, Larry, Nov. 21, 2011; her parents, Roy and Velva (Dillman) Groom; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Walter and Sadie (Bell) Ward; her sister, Betty Atkinson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: John Atkinson, Bill Lund, Neil Ward (Dorothy), William Ward (Maxine), Ronald Ward (Ethel) LaVon (Shorty) Ward, Leonard Ward, Lucille (Pete) Ritchie, Mildred (Alton) Fortney, Faye (Lewie) Roth and Betty Ward.

Submit A Comment

Fill out the form to submit a comment. All comments require approval by our staff before it is displayed on the website.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments