Patricia “Pat” Ann (Wrage) Oettchen, 87

Patricia “Pat” Ann (Wrage) Oettchen, 87, of Gladbrook, Iowa, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Grundy County Memorial Hospital.

Services for Pat will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Green Mountain United Church of Christ, Green Mountain, Iowa. Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the services. A family graveside service will be held at the Maple Hill Cemetery, Gladbrook, Iowa. Pastor Kim Wilson and Lay pastor Madonna Wilson will officiate. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Patricia and her family. Ph. 641-844-1234.

Pat, daughter of Fred and Bernice (Lage) Wrage was born in the Lincoln, Iowa, family home July 8, 1935. She graduated from Gladbrook High School in 1953. On October 4, 1953, she married Ervin Oettchen.

Pat did not hold a job outside of the home, but she was involved in many community and church activities throughout her life: Music Mothers, PTA, 4-H and Junior Auxiliary leader, Neighborhood Club (charter member), Sunday school teacher and superintendent of 3-, 4-, 5-year-old classes, Adult Fellowship, County Fair Board, Tama County Fair Superintendent, Gladbrook Auxiliary, Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Women. Pat held many leadership roles in the above-mentioned at the local, county, district and state levels.

The Iowa Mother’s Association named Pat an Iowa Merit Mother in 1981 and served as state treasurer for 30 years.

Although she volunteered for her church and community for over 40 years, and in some instances 50 years, she humbly accepted several awards during her lifetime recognizing her volunteer service: Governor’s Volunteer Hall of Fame 1994, Governor’s Volunteer Award (Ervin and Pat) 2000; Friends of Tama County Fair Award 2002, 4-H State Hall of Fame 2011.

Pat was particularly pleased when the Lage home place was recognized as an Iowa Century Farm in 2002. Many family members attended the Century Farm ceremony held during the Iowa State Fair.

Above all, Pat enjoyed her family, especially family picnics and Thanksgiving/Christmas. Her six grandchildren remember her Easter egg hunts, cutting pizza with scissors, homemade Carmel corn, red cabbage, playing UNO, cinnamon rolls and Christmas cookies in ice cream pails. Her birthday cards and all occasion cards will be missed.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Ervin, of 69 ? years and three daughters: Madonna (Kim) Wilson, Gladbrook; Connie Strable, Indianola; Judy (Bob) Peterson, Beaman. Six grandchildren: Jennie (Jacob) Moore, Conrad; Lindsey Strable, Urbandale; Loni (James) Droigk, Gladbrook; Travis (Elana) Strable, Indianola; Jamie (Zenon) Espejo, Iowa Falls; Kelsi (Todd) Knoll, St. Charles. Sixteen plus one due in July great- grandchildren: Amaya, Isabel, Ema, Eliza, Cecilla, Lily, Enrique, Aiden, Ava, McKay, Wilson, Penelope, Andrew, Embrely, Gentry, Lauren. One sister, Diane (Wayne) Chamberlain and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding Pat in death were her parents and brother in-law and sister-in law, Gerald and Helen Degner.

-Lovingly written by the family