Patricia Joan Dunnam

   The public interment service for Patricia Dunnam will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Pleasant Valley Cemetery. From the Casey’s Store in Hawarden, go west 2 miles, north on 484 for 1.3 miles and then west on 301 for 1 mile and Pleasant Valley Cemetery is on the north side of the road.

HAWARDEN, IOWA ~ Patricia Joan Dunnam, 88, of Hawarden, died Thursday morning, February 16, 2023 at the Sanford Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her daughters and 2 granddaughters were present to see God call her home.

   Funeral Service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at Friendship Assembly of God Church in Hawarden. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family.

   Patricia was born on the farm in Union County, South Dakota on May 13, 1934 (Mother’s Day) to Emil and Johanna (Jensen) Lindgren. She attended Greater Scott country school and Hawarden High School. The “town” kids called her “Patsy from the sticks.”

   She entered nurses training at St. Luke’s in Sioux City. While in nurses training, she went on a blind date and met the love of her life, a tall slim airman named Jim Dunnam. They were married in June of 1954. Pat’s mother and her aunt Minnie disapproved of the marriage and said it would never last because Jim was in the military. They traveled extensively for over 20 plus years and when it was time to retire from the military, they decided to buy the family farm where Pat was born.

   Pat’s childhood included being involved in all aspects of farm life. She excelled in home economics in school and was always busy cooking for large groups of farm help.

   4-H years saw her winning a purple ribbon at the South Dakota State Fair for her cherry pie. Since that time, she has been known far and wide for her pies. Her special friend, Luke Boyer, will miss her pies as well as her friendship. Her fresh baked goods at farmers market always sold out. Homemade jams and jellies were another specialty.

   Pat worked as an LPN, Home Health Aide, and Hospice volunteer. She was honored at the state level as Hospice Volunteer of the Year. She also enjoyed writing cards for birthdays and anniversaries for members of their church.

   She was an avid writer, composing short stories and poems. She loved writing letters and had many pen pals over the years.

   Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 68 years, Jim; four children, Andrea Whittington of Rapid City, SD, James (Betty) Dunnam of Alcester, SD, Alice (Doug) Peters of Hawarden, and Dale Dunnam of Kansas City, MO; son-in-law, Scott Persing of Hudson, SD; sister, Pauline Popken of Elma, IA; brother-in-law, Larry Nilson of rural Hawarden; 11 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Johanna Lindgren; sisters, Beverly Lindgren and Peggy Nilson; brother, Paul Lindgren; and daughter, Sue Persing.

   The world is a little less bright today with the loss of this wonderful woman. But the world is a whole lot better because she was a part of it.