Pruess, M. Patricia 'Pat'

M. Patricia “Pat” Pruess

Pat Pruess, 82, of Davenport, formerly of Cedar Rapids and Clarence, died Saturday, May 29, 2010, at Trinity Pathway Hospice at Terrace Park in Bettendorf. Visitation will be held at Chapman Funeral Home in Clarence on Tuesday, June 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, De Witt. The family also will receive relatives and friends at 1 p.m. in the Gathering Space at St. Joe's before Mass. Burial will be at St. John's Cemetery, Clarence.

Margaret Patricia was born Jan. 21, 1928, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of William and Margaret Flynn Lannert. She graduated in 1949 from the University of Iowa, where she studied with E.C. Mabie and was awarded a B.A. degree in theater. She taught high school English and theater at Clarence, Lincoln and Oxford Junction schools and worked for Tri-Co Publishing for many years. She continued her work in education as a classroom assistant for the Cedar Rapids schools before retiring in 1990.

She married Donald “Don” Lee Pruess on July 7, 1951, in Skokie, Ill. They raised four children on their farm south of Clarence. She and Don moved to Cedar Rapids in 1980. They then moved to Silvercrest Assisted Living in Davenport in December 2008. In January 2010, she received her care in the special memory unit at Silvercrest. She was most recently a member of St. Joseph Parish in Marion before moving to Davenport.  She was also a Legion Auxiliary member for 56 years and a NEA member (National Education Association).

Survivors include her children, Mary, Elkhart, Ind., Dorothy (Ken) Sheldon, De Witt, Thomas (Vicki), Clarence, and Jeanne (Mike) Burdett, Silt, Colo.; five grandchildren, Karen and Kyle Sheldon, and Doug (Rachel), Dana and Brad Pruess; sisters, Ellen Jane Gialamas and Nancy Lannert, both of Des Plaines, Ill.; and sisters-in-law, Ann Lannert, Owsego, Ill., and Marilyn Pruess, Clarence.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brothers, John and James; and a sister, Betty.

The family extends their sincere appreciation to the UCU nursing staff and doctors at Trinity Medical Center at Terrace Park, to Trinity Pathway Hospice and especially to the staff and administration at Silvercrest Garner Farms for their excellent care and support.

Memorials may be made to the family.

Chapman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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