Cecelia Rose “Rosie” Patterson, 83, of Danbury, passed away on Friday, November 11, 2022, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.
Cecelia Rose “Rosie” Patterson was born on June 12, 1939, on the family farm near Ponca, NE, to Cecelia (Noziska) and John Marx, Sr. She attended school in Waterbury, NE, graduating with the class of 1956 at the age of 16 and became a beekeeper.
After furthering her education at the National Business Training Institute in Sioux City, she worked for the next three years for Leo Hassenger at his insurance office in Sioux City. The next 13 years found her working as a fire insurance agent for J. Watt Wooldridge Insurance. She spent the last 30 years of her working career as an income maintenance worker for the Department of Human Services, retiring in December of 2001.
Cecelia met Glenn “Bud” Patterson, Jr. at the Dominic Club and they were married on September 25, 1982, in Sioux City. The couple made their home on a farm on the edge of Danbury. Cecelia’s extended family was very important to her and she attended as many of their events as she could. She was a faithful and active member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury.
Full of life and very active on her farm and in her community, Cecelia had a huge garden, many fruit trees, and was proud of her organic sustainable farming. Her produce was often donated to the local soup kitchen. Besides being a gardener, she was an avid beekeeper, raised chickens, tapped her maple trees to make syrup, and pressed apples for cider. Cecelia enjoyed sewing and knitting, making some of her own clothes. She could be found camping, fishing, hunting, and she loved to travel. Cecelia was also politically involved and was an election worker. She also had a fondness for cats and found their companionship comforting.
She is survived by her sisters Mary Dierking of Ponca, Margaret Craig of Ponca, and Susan Comstock of South Sioux City; brother Nick (Mary) Marx of McCook Lake; sister-in-law Pat Marx of Lubbock, TX; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Cecelia and John Marx, Sr.; her husband Glenn “Bud” Patterson, Jr.; brother Dr. John N. Marx, Jr.; sister Helen (Pat) Meylor; brothers-in-law Marnin “Barney” Dierking, John Craig, and Dan Comstock.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in remembrance of Cecelia to the Danbury Catholic Church or The Soup Kitchen in Sioux City.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury. Father William A. McCarthy officiated. Committal services followed in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery.
A Visitation was held prior to the service, with a Time of Sharing at 10 a.m. followed by a Rosary Service at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17.
The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton was in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
