Pauline J. Patrick

Pauline J. Patrick age 87 of Fairbury, NE. died March 12, 2007 at the Heritage Care Center in Fairbury. Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday March 17, 2007 at the United Methodist Church in Fairbury. Burial at the Fairbury Cemetery. Pauline June Patrick was born June 22, 1919 at the family home in Reynolds, NE to Paul and Alta (Simmons) Stark. She died March 12, 2007 at Heritage Care Center in Fairbury, NE.
She graduated from Reynolds High School in 1936 and received a teaching certificate from Peru State College in 1938. She taught at Oakland and Reynolds, NE before returning to Peru State College to earn her B.A. in 1945. She also attended Hastings College and Lincoln School of Commerce. She earned a Masters of Education from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in 1961. She retired from the Fairbury Public Schools in the early 1980s.
On November 14, 1942 Pauline and Lewis “Pat” Patrick were united in marriage. They were the parents of two daughters, Sara and Patricia.
Pauline and Pat lived in Fairbury from 1949 until their deaths. Pat, Pauline, and her mother Alta Stark purchased the Florence Hotel in 1949. They operated the hotel until she returned to the classroom in 1956. Although they had both taught in several other communities including Reynolds, Winside, Uehling, Oakland, and Dawson, their lives were centered in Fairbury and around the Fairbury Public Schools.
Pauline was a life long member of the Methodist Church and received her 75 year membership pin in November of 2006 at the Fairbury United Methodist Church. At her church she was a member of the United Methodist Women where she held many offices. As a member of the Ruth Circle she was part of a team that prepared meals for funerals.
Pauline was extremely active in her community, and these are just a few of her many activities. She had been member of the PEO chapter AO for over fifty years and was a founder of several investment clubs. She was an avid golfer and instituted a girls golf team at Fairbury High School, serving as the team coach for several years. She played duplicate bridge and was a member of several bridge clubs. She enjoyed growing flowers, watching sporting events, playing Bingo, delivering Meals on Wheels, and making dried flower arrangements. She also loved knitting and working on many other needlework projects. Pauline spent many happy hours with the Fancy Quilters at the Fairbury Methodist Church.
She is survived by her daughters Sara Volker and husband Jim Volker of West Des Moines, IA; Patricia South and husband Don South of Hastings, NE; grandchildren Drew and Caitlin Volker of West Des Moines, IA; Natalie South of Kearney, NE; Emily South of Hastings, NE; sister Joyce Callan of Fairbury; brother-in-law Ralph Patrick and wife Millie of San Diego, CA; niece Laurie Patrick of Los Angeles, CA; niece Catherine Callan Renshaw and husband Jamie of Odell, NE; nephew John Callan and wife Jane of Omaha, NE; nephew Gene Byerhoff and niece Patsy Byerhoff Hixson of Sacramento, CA.
Pauline was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Alta Stark, husband Lewis Patrick, brother Warren Stark, brother-in-law Clair Callan, sister-in-law Arlene Patrick Byerhoff, and grandson James Volker.
Family will be present for a visitation on Friday, March 16 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home.