On January 27, 2025, Iretta “Pat” (Clark) Elliott passed on peacefully at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin surrounded by her family. She was 99 years young. Pat was born on the family farm, along with her twin sister Alletta, near Blue River Wisconsin. She also had two brothers and two more sisters. She lived most of her young life on the farm, graduating from Sand Prairie Grade School, then on to Blue River High School, graduating in 1943.
Pat started her journey to her teaching career attending “Teachers College” in Richland Center Wisconsin. She worked at her uncle’s cafe, did babysitting, and worked at Parker Pen, and Ray-O-Vac where she made batteries for the Navy Signal Corp. to help support herself through college. She also returned to the family farm on weekends to assist with the family farm as the brothers were both serving in the military. She finished up her schooling in Platteville Wisconsin., playing saxophone in the band and singing in the choir.
Pat then started teaching in the rural areas around Blue River, including Sand Prairie where she had been a student. What wonderful memories.
While teaching, her high school “sweetheart” returned home from serving in the Navy in WWII. John C. Elliott and Iretta E. Clark were married on June 4, 1947, in Blue River at the Methodist Church. They moved to Richland Center where John attended welding school, in La Crosse. After getting his degree, they moved to Boscobel, where Pat continued teaching until her third child. The kids kept her busy with activities, sports, etc., and she started the first Girl Scout Troop in Boscobel.
In 1955 she joined the Boscobel American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, eventually becoming the President. She was still a member until her passing. In 1964 they moved to Columbus Wisconsin, where they purchased the Gambles hardware store and she did substitute teaching at the grade school.
In 1971 they moved to their final location in Marquette Iowa, where Jack worked at Bituma-Stor. Pat started working at Prairie Sand and Gravel, where she worked for nineteen years before finally retiring. After that she worked part time at Walmart in Prairie du Chien.
Pat loved her Chicago Cubs, bowling, dancing, playing cards, roller skating, softball, watching her hummingbirds, sewing, and in her later years she made hundreds of quilts. She loved to sew and made capes for the Christmas program for the children of the United Methodist Church, where they were members for all their lives. She, along with the members of the church made a quilt detailing the history of all the Pastors who served the church in McGregor, plus she made and embroidered a large table cloth that is still in use.
Pat was the beloved mother of four children, John Eldon, Steven, Monica (Teaka) and Julie, all proud to call her MOM.
Pat is survived by one son, Steven L. (Donna) Elliott of Portage, son-in-law, Jon Ayers of McGregor, Iowa, and daughter-in-law Aura Elliott of Hedgesville, West Virginia; nine grandchildren, Korey (Anja) Ayers, Abby (Todd) Wilhelm, Steven J. (Lisa Bowers) Elliott, Jamie Elliott, Randy (Trina) Elliott, Aaron (Abby) Elliott, Jessica (Nathan) Hess, Dana (Paul) Gordon, and Dacia (Kory) Warrington; twenty-three great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
Pat was preceded in passing by her husband, John (Jack) in 2023; daughter, Julie Abildtrup in 2007; son, John E. Elliott and Monica Ayers, both in 2022. Also preceding her were her parents, John’s parents; son-in-law, Mark Abildtrup; brothers, Gerald and James Clark; sisters, Alletta Barr, Beth Ann Hippenbecker and Rosemary Padera; sisters-in-law, Harriett Gangsted and Wilma Clark; brothers-in-law, Claude Barr, John Hippenbecker and Richard Padera.
Pat loved life and all of her family and friends and was greatly loved by all !!! “I LOVE YOU MORE”
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 am with a Visitation from 10:30 am to 11:30 am on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in McGregor, Iowa.
There will be Celebration of Life at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at The Barn Restaurant in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor, Iowa is assisting the family with services. |