Obituaries : Patricia (Pat) Boddicker

Patricia (Pat) Boddicker was a lively 94 years young when she passed on Monday, March 27, 2023 from pulmonary fibrosis. Services will be held at a later date. Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

Pat is survived by her daughter, Wendy (Tom) Torpey of Deland, FL; son, Kevin (Brenda) Boddicker of Luana, IA; son in-law, Lonny Mersch; eight grandchildren: Dr. Rick (Tracy) Mersch, Angela Mersch (Steve Ryder), Chuck (Sarah) Mersch, Tara (Jonathan) Cork, Megan Torpey, Mitch (Heidi) Boddicker, Jeff (Sam) Boddicker and Brooke (Michael) Daws; nineteen great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many special friends who were like family.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 40 years, Mike; son, Rodney Boddicker; daughter, Sandra Mersch; and two sisters, Doris Tucker and Joanne (Les) Dvorak.

Pat was born on July 9, 1928 at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, a town she lived in most of her life. She was the daughter of Basil and Ella (Dalton) Bruce. Pat attended Mt. Mercy College when it was still an all-girls school. On October 7, 1947, she married Marvin "Mike" Boddicker in Cedar Rapids and raised their family in Vinton for many years. Pat was employed as a legal secretary for Don Boddicker. Pat was a wonderful historian and could tell you all kinds of things about the Great Depression and WWII. She took pride in her Irish Catholic Heritage, loved to dance and had been knitting and sewing all her life. She was known to make beautiful quilts and a beloved Christmas stocking for each family member.

Pat was a lifelong fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball and football teams. She liked to garden, something she learned from her father, and grew beautiful roses and delicious tomatoes. Pat's home was always open and she always had a glass of Lipton tea handy. She enjoyed dinner dates with her family and friends and was always up for pizza and a sleep over. Pat cherished family times and loved to keep up with them on her iPhone, or by FaceTiming her greats in Manchester, UK and Washington D.C. on her iPad.

She occasionally enjoyed a glass or two of White Zin with two ice cubes in the evening. Her favorite sweets were Butter Brickle ice cream, SnackPac Lemon Puddings, Pecan Sandies and Oatmeal Cream Pies. Pat relished in playing online games like, "Words with Friends" with anyone brave enough to challenge her. She will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Instead of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Pat's name and donations will be made to her favorite charities.