DUE TO THE IMPENDING WEATHER THE LOCATION OF PATS VISITATION IS BEING MOVED TO THE REDIG FUNERAL HOME INSTEAD OF THE AURELIA COMMUNITY CENTER
Visitation for Pat Redig 67 of Aurelia will be Friday, January 12, 2024 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at the Aurelia Community Center. A private committal service will take place at the Storm Lake Cemetery, Storm Lake Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Aurelia Public Library. Arrangements are being handled by the Redig Funeral Home of Aurelia.
Patricia Lynn Cowell was born on August 30, 1956 the daughter of George William and Betty Joanne (Walsh-Clawson) in Oelwein, Iowa. The family moved to Neillsville, WI for a short time and then back to George’s family dairy farm in Monona, IA on Big Foot Hill where she enjoyed farm life to the fullest, often sitting in fresh cow pies, and embracing her inner hillbilly by never wanting to wear shoes for the rest of her life. When Pat was 9, the family moved to Cedar Rapids where she quickly became the Lincoln Way Village neighborhood boss and ruled over all the backyard baseball games in the family’s yard. When she was not keeping the neighborhood in line she attended Prairie School System graduating in 1974. Pat worked in various restaurants and the Roosevelt Hotel as a waitress. In 1976 she went to work at the Happy Chef Restaurant in Cedar Rapids where she met the night manager, Roger Redig, whom she married on June 24, 1978 at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. Prior to being married, Roger moved back to his home town of Storm Lake to start an antique shop and care for his elderly grandfather after rescuing him from the nursing home. After they were married, Pat gave up her job working for the State of Iowa in the 16th Ave. Liquor Store and moved to Storm Lake with her new husband and his grandfather where she loving cared for him until his death in 1983. Three months after his death, Pat became a mother and would forever share her birthday with their daughter Rachel. While in Storm Lake, Pat worked for Dr. Stephan collecting blood samples at Hygrade and then later at Julius Cleaners and Hy-Vee Food Store, and was co-manager of the Harbor House Restaurant with Roger for a few years. The family moved to Ackley, Iowa in 1989 for 14 months after the sale of the Hughes-Nelson Funeral Home didn’t work out, where Roger had been employed for 10 years. While living in Ackley, they welcomed home their second child Roman. In the fall of 1990, George Wharton made them aware that he was ready to retire, so they purchased the Wharton Funeral Home in Aurelia on January 1, 1991 where Pat helped in every capacity of running the funeral home. From working at visitations to helping with funerals and writing all the obituaries, Pat’s input was vital.
As a child, Pat enjoyed picnicking with her family and fishing at Lake McBride, that was until she met her dear friend, air conditioning! Pat, a.k.a. Myrtle, as she was known by those near to her enjoyed many of the simpler things in life and was very tidy and organized, sometimes obsessively so. She was a bit of a hoarder and the thing she loved to hoard the most was money! Whether it was a penny found on the street or saving a few cents shopping, it brought her great joy. Her love of tidiness even carried over to the bank to the point of making the bank tellers pick out special unfolded and unwrinkled bills! Pat also never saw a diamond she didn’t like. Family time was very important to her and she was “Mom” to not only her own children, but many of their friends as well. Pat loved to share her fantastic cooking abilities with many relatives and friends. She took great pride in producing about three times the amount of food actually needed for a meal as she never wanted to run out. Often many meals took her all day to prepare which never bothered her a bit. Pat was the slowest eater always being the last one to finish, especially if she had crab legs or chicken! After everyone was beyond stuffed, it was expected that a game of some sort would be played whether it be cards or a board game. Pat was always on the winning team if you asked her as she was the score keeper! She also enjoyed various sewing and crocheting projects as her hands would allow. Pat had an active role in the Masonic Lodge fund raisers and served several Thanksgiving and Scholarship meals and took money for Funnel Cakes at the Star Spangled Spectacular in Storm Lake for 30 years and the Aurelia Fire Department fund raising events for 20 years. Her quick wit and fantastic sense of humor will be always remembered by those dear to her. Although mostly on the receiving end of many jokes, she was always more than willing to return fire! Pat had an exceptional green thumb caring very diligently for her many orchids, African violets, and holiday cactus plants including her great grandmother’s Christmas cactus. Pat loved to talk, her three favorite subjects were her Father and her two children. She always was willing to help her children with any project from sewing wrestling pillows through butchering deer to cooking beaver. She was Roger’s pitbull and all he had to say was “sick ‘em” and she was off growling and snapping. In recent years she really enjoyed working on her family genealogy, even being able to compile enough information to join the Daughters of the American Revolution and, beyond that, being admitted to the Mayflower Society as member #100734 pride fully boasting that she was the 17th generation off the boat with her ancestor William Brewster being the preacher that said grace at the first Thanksgiving in 1621.
Pat died on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at Accura Healthcare of Aurelia at the age of 67 years, 4 months, 9 days, after battling her second round of cancer. She fought the good fight and had seven extra years after winning her fight the first round. This time her fate was not as fortunate and she ultimately lost the battle. Private family services will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at the Storm Lake Cemetery.
Preceding Pat in death are her parents George and Joanne Cowell. Her parents-in-law Melvin and Betty Redig and one Brother-in-Law Rick Hilbert.
Left to cherish Pat’s lasting memory are her husband Roger, daughter Rachel and husband Simon Williams of Estherville, Iowa and son Roman and his wife Shelby Redig of Aurelia, along with 3 granddaughters; Erica and Riley Williams and Remi Redig. One Brother Tom Cowell; one Sister-in-Law Marcia Hilbert; and one Brother-in-Law Randy Redig. Nieces Amy and her husband Brad Pohlman, Nicolle and her husband Eric Rubendall, Mandy and her husband Trevor Shannon, Sarah Hilbert and her wife Donna Lancaster, Leah and her husband Matt Schipper, and Anna Kaye Cowell. Nephews Thomas and his wife Jazmine Cowell, Simon Cowell, and Lakota Cowell. Nineteen great nieces and nephews and one very special honorary daughter Suzi QPB Gustafson, crazy cousin-in-law, Steven Ellrich along with many relatives and dear friends.