Joyce “Joy” Ardene Patten, 88, of Perry passed away Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, at the Rowley Masonic Community in Perry, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 17 at 12 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Perry. Visitation will be Monday, Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 12 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in the Violet Hill Cemetery at Perry.
Memorials will be given to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund or the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care. Online condolences may be sent at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Joyce “Joy” Ardene Patten was born June 2, 1930, in Lake View, Iowa, to Fred Otto and Carrie (Sauter) Ellwanger.
Through the eighth grade, she attended a rural one-room school that was taught by her older sister and then went to Lake View High School, graduating with the class of 1947. To further her education, she went to Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, graduating in 1966 Magna Cum Laude.
Joy was united in marriage to Thomas Barnard Patten in Lake View June 10, 1951.
She began her teaching career at the Fairview Consolidated School. Later she taught in the Audubon Community School District, Adel-DeSoto Community School District and lastly in the Perry Community School District, retiring in the spring of 1986. Most of the time she taught fifth grade.
Joy was a deacon and member of the First Presbyterian Church, active in various ladies’ groups at church, Eastern Star and Delta Kappa Gamma.
She enjoyed reading, playing cards, putting puzzles together and spending time with her family.
In death she rejoins her husband, Thomas Patten; parents, Fred and Carrie Ellwanger; and siblings, Mabel, Alice, Evelyn, Lucille, Fred Otto Jr. and Everett; and many other family members whom she loved dearly.
Left to cherish Joy’s memory are her daughter, Dawn Parker (Brian) of Perry; son, Dr. James (Jane) Patten of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Erin (Eric) Hansen, Kathy (Ben) Warren, Kristi (Chris) Elliott, Elizabeth Patten and Michael (Nicole) Patten; and great-grandchildren, Mara and Laina Elliott, Arlo and Ira Warren and Liliana Hansen; sister, June Bowers; brothers-in-law, Neil Patten and Doug Patten; sisters-in-law, Margaret Ellwanger, Darlene Patten and Ruth Hoferman; many nieces and nephews; and much extended family and friends.
