Patricia Edberg

PATRICIA R. EDBERG

Iowa City

Patricia R. Edberg, 88, of Saline, Mich., formerly of Iowa City, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. Visitation will be held two hours before the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to WSUI radio station or Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.

Pat was born Sept. 5, 1927, in Vermillion, S.D., the daughter of Herman and Ruth (Patrick) Frankenfeld. She attended the University of South Dakota and the University of Iowa. Pat was united in marriage to Robert Anderson Edberg on March 4, 1947, in Sioux Falls, S.D. He preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 2000.

Pat is survived by her three children, Linda (Bill Combs) Edberg of Saline, Mich., Timothy (Ann Parsons) Edberg of Bowie, Md., and Jeffrey (Carol) Edberg of Iowa City; and four grandchildren, Emily Holmer, and Colin, Fiona and Liam Edberg.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her brother, Bob; and daughter, Diane Edberg.

Vivacious. Feisty. Passionate. Captivating. Loving. Spunky. Witty. Strong. Compassionate. Lover of music. Hawkeye fan. Sometimes cantankerous. Those who knew this remarkable woman will recognize her clearly in these terms commonly used to describe her. She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. Throughout her life, people who knew her often said, "She's a real pistol!" And she was.

Pat's chief passion in her life was her family, her husband, Bob (the love of her life), and four children. She was devoted to and fiercely protective of each member. It is a testament to her child rearing that each child felt loved as if they were her special favorite.

Later in life, she took a position as editorial assistant at the University of Iowa, a career that let her flex her prodigious knowledge of the correct use of the English language. She worked at the university until her retirement at age 65.

Pat kept active through the years with many hobbies, including sewing, painting, reading, birdwatching, gardening, card games, word puzzles and watching old movies. She was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City and sang in its choir. Pat served as a precinct committeewoman for the Johnson County Democrats and remained interested in public affairs her entire life. She kept learning all her life, always maintaining a childlike wonder at the world and how things work.

Everyone who met Pat immediately fell in love with her. She was fond of saying, "I've been lucky all my life." Those who knew Pat count themselves as lucky, too.

She will be missed.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.