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Dresselhuis, George W.
Patten, Allen M.
Allen Patten Dies in Alaska
Longtime Alaskan Allen Mayo Patten, 87, died February 12, 2004, at Amazing
Grace Assisted Living in Anchorage. A military service will be held at the VFW
in Eagle River, Friday, February 27, at 3 pm. At Allen's request, his ashes will
be scattered over Mt. McKinley.
Allen was born January 6, 1917 in rural Carroll County, Iowa to Clarence Floyd
and Anna (Billotte) Patten. The family lived on farms in Carroll County, Iowa,
Lamar Nebraska and the Odebolt, Iowa area.
In 1934, Allen joined the Navy and served on the USS Nevada along with his five brothers when the battleship was damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He also served on the USS Lexington with five of his brothers when his aircraft carrier was destroyed in the battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942. Allen continued serving in the Navy during World War II on several ships including the USS Enterprise that was in several major sea battles including the Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. Allen continued his Navy career retiring in 1959 with the rank of Chief Machinist Mate.
In 1955, Allen married Patricia Whittinger and they had two children, Morris
Lex and Melinda. In 1962 the family moved to Alaska and settled in Anchorage;
here Allen retired from the Civil Service at Elemendorf Air Force Base. In 1969,
at age 52, Allen climbed and reached the peak of Mt. McKinley, the highest point
in North America. In 2000, he published his autobiography "Pearl Harbor
& Other Memories".
Allen's best times were with his family, skiing, hunting, fishing and exploring
Alaska's beauty. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife, Patricia,
sister, Martha Sporleder; brothers, Gilbert Patten, Marvin Patten, Clarence
Patten (Bick), Ray Patten (Bub) and sister Hazel in infancy.
Survivors include his son Lex Patten and his wife Karen, Allen's daughter Melinda Brody; brothers Myrne Patten (Ted) of Lake City Iowa, Bruce Patten of Battle Ground Washington and Wayne Patten of Henderson Nevada. Allen is also survived by four grandchildren, Brandan Brody, Zoe Ingram-Patten, Tori Ingram-Patten and Lexi Patten.
George W. Dresselhuis, age 93, of Odebolt, Iowa, died May 4, 2004, at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa.
George was born in Parkersburg, Iowa, on December 28, 1910, to Henry and Grace Dresselhuis. He grew up with six sisters. George met the love of his life while in high school, and pursued Thelma until she accepted his ongoing proposal. On February 23, 1935, they were married.
George always wanted to be a lawyer and throughout his life affirmed that nothing was so rewarding as the practice of law. After high school he obtained a job that would allow him to attend Drake University, where he graduated in the top of his class in 1934 and passed the bar. He practiced law briefly in Des Moines. In 1936 he came to Odebolt, where he practiced until a few months before his death. George did not retire voluntarily.
In 1979 Joseph Heidenreich joined George in the firm of Dresselhuis & Heidenreich. George knew and cared for the legal needs of his clients and their families from cradle to grave. He was the real estate title expert of Sac, Ida and much of Crawford Counties. His knowledge of probate law and practice was unequaled. He held the highest rating in the Martindale Hubbell attorney rating system as an attorney of exceptional ability. He was Odebolt city attorney for over 50 years.
He was proud of Thelma and of his family. He enjoyed the association of many as friends, clients and associates. His annual fishing trip with his brothers-in-law was always a high point. Later, he and Thelma traveled to dozens of interesting places here and abroad, enjoying the many new experiences.
George spent many hours in his garden, tending his flowers and his annual vegetable plantings. During these hours, he thought through problems to be solved at his office and found solutions for the legal dilemmas that he faced in his work. Nothing pleased him more than finding an answer to a vexing problem that would satisfy all the various interests. He also enjoyed dancing, especially with Thelma.
George is survived by his wife, Thelma (Hansen) Dresselhuis, children, Ellen and Gerrit; 2 grandchildren; and 4 sisters. His first great-grandchild is due soon, and he has three step-grandchildren, who enjoyed knowing great granddad, George.
George is also survived by many special friends, who have been and continue to be, truly a gift to all of us. We can’t list all of the wonderful people in George and Thelma’s lives, but we thank especially Joe and Jane Heidenreich, Ron and Elaine Rex, and Herb and Joan Turin for all their help in these past months. We also give special thanks to Dr. Carl Toben, Shelly Else, and the caring and skilled staff at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove. You and the love surrounding us in the community of Odebolt are true blessings.
[Funeral Services were held Saturday, May 8 at the United Methodist Church in Odebolt, with burial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa.]
See also: Article on George Dresselhuis
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