Funeral services for Naomi Patten, 89, of Aurelia, will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, January 20, 2011, at the First Congregational Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Bruce Rapp officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2:00 P.M. till 7:00 P.M., with the family present from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., at the First Congregational Church. The Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia is in charge of arrangements.
Naomi died Sunday, January 16, 2011 at the Sunset Knoll Care & Rehab Center in Aurelia. She had been a resident since October 22, 2005, and had received wonderful care from the Sunset Knoll staff and Hospice of Buena Vista County.
Naomi Ann Jeckell was born March 21, 1921, the daughter of Sidney and Nora (Jackson) Jeckell in Lamberton, Minnesota. She graduated from the Sac City High School in 1939. She attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake for two years and received her teaching certificate. She taught near Sac City in a one-room school house for two years, and later as a substitute teacher in Aurelia during the 1950’s and 60’s.
On July 27, 1942, Naomi was united in marriage to Wilbur Thomas Patten at the Wee Kurk of the Heather in Las Vegas, NV, while Wilbur was stationed with the Army in California. They had two sons, William Thomas and Michael Sidney. After Wilbur was discharged from the service they farmed near Larrabee, IA. Later they farmed south of Aurelia until retiring in 1977. They moved into Aurelia in 1978. Naomi worked at Sunset Knoll Retirement Home from 1978 to 1986. Naomi was a member of the First Congregational Church in Aurelia. She loved her family, her grandchildren, and animals. She enjoyed flowers, playing cards, and raising chickens.
Preceding Naomi in death were her parents, her husband Wilbur on March 13, 2005, her sisters Mildred Smith, Marjorie Sommers and Gladys Girardin, her brothers Gordon Jeckell and Raymond Jeckell, and four siblings in infancy, Lloyd, Lilis, Lois, and Lowell.
Survivors include two sons, Michael and his wife Sheryl Patten of Spencer, and William and his wife Rosalee Patten of Clemons, IA, six grandchildren, Nicholas and his wife Kathi Patten, Tyler Patten, Lee Patten, Alicia Patten, Brandon and his wife Corrien Patten and Devin Patten, and four great-grandchildren, Mollee Patten, Mark Patten, Adeline Patten and Charles Patten. Also surviving are one sister, Fernetta Siebrecht of Schaller, two sisters-in-law, Marian Coombs of Alta, and Sally Patten of Carroll, one brother-in-law, Robert Patten of Ankeny, nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.