Guard, Patrick (Pat) Joseph

Patrick (Pat) Joseph Guard, 65, of North Liberty, passed away Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, into the hands of our loving Lord. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Solon, with the Rev. James Vrba officiating. Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery in Solon. A visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., with a 6:30 p.m. vigil service, Wednesday at Lensing Funeral Cremation Service of Iowa City.

As a member of the founding board of directors, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Community Foundation of Johnson County.

Patrick was born on April 15, 1948, the son of Louis H and Cleta Guard, in Geneva, N.Y. He was united in marriage to Deborah Lynn Seymour on March 2, 1985.

He grew up in Geneva, N.Y. and graduated from DeSales Catholic High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y.

Patrick had a lifelong career of service to community which began with the Jaycee Organization and included him being the executive director of the NYS Jaycees which then progressed to the executive director of the Cortland, New York and Geneva, New York Chambers of Commerce and president/CEO of the Kenosha, Wis. and Iowa City Chambers of Commerce. Pat had affiliations with many different community organizations through the years, among them the NYS Jaycees, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Seneca Lake Whale Watch, Knights of Columbus, The Community Foundation of Johnson County and others.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah; a son, Patrick of Cortland, N.Y.; daughters, Joan (Neil) Gates of Palmyra, N.Y., Julia (Eddie) Maslin of Homer, N.Y., Jennifer (James) Morse of Homer, N.Y., Shannon (Mitchell) Kinion of Stanwood and Danielle Guard and special friend Jeff Johnson of North Liberty; brothers, Louis of Fairport, N.Y., Robert (Patricia) of Geneva, N.Y. and Thomas (Josephine) of Geneva, N.Y.; and grandchildren, James and Jocelyn Morse, Patrick and Ethan Maslin and Elliotte Kinion.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Howard and Alan.

Online condolences may be sent at .

Published in The Gazette Nov. 19, 2013.