Obituaries : Patricia ‘Pat’ Lynne Hawkins Deklotz

Patricia 'Pat' Lynne Hawkins Deklotz, 73, of Atkins, Iowa, departed this life peacefully on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. She was surrounded by love and family.

A visitation will be held at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, IA on Friday, February 10, from 4pm-7pm. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins with Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. Interment will be held at St. Stephen's Cemetery in rural Atkins following the service. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or St. Stephen's Lutheran Church.

Pat was born on December 30, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, to Robert and Darlene (Crane) Hawkins. She moved to Chillicothe, MO and graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1968.

Pat began her collegiate career at Cottey College in Nevada, MO. She received her degree in 1970 and transferred to Iowa State. There, she met the love of her life, Mike Deklotz. She completed her undergraduate degrees in English and Spanish at Iowa State University in 1972.

Mike and Pat married in Chillicothe, MO, on June 24, 1973. The two began their lives as a married couple in Eagle Grove, IA, where Pat taught at Eagle Grove High School and Iowa Central Community College until their daughter Jennifer was born.

The three moved to the Deklotz family farm in Atkins, IA, in 1979. Pat took on a new role as stay-at-home mom and substitute teacher at Benton Community High School and Central Lutheran School in Newhall, IA.

Pat moved into farm life with grace and brought her love of horticulture to her new surroundings. She added over a dozen flower beds and transformed the farm to make it feel like home. Pat loved to create and spent her time sewing, knitting, crocheting, and basket-weaving. She cherished spending time with her family, friends, and her grandchildren.

Pat was an active member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, where she taught catechism classes. She was also a member of the PEO-Chapter MZ in Vinton, Iowa.

Pat was a breast cancer survivor of 23 years. She dedicated her time and services as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and the Relay for Life and helped to raise money to find a cure for breast cancer.

Pat is survived by her husband Mike; daughter Jen (Joe) Eason of Port Washington, WI; grandchildren Sam, Maddie, and Dylan; sister-in-law Madelyn Hawkins of Fort Worth, TX; nieces Michelle (David) Eichelberger of Euless, TX and Elizabeth (John) Serratore of Menomonie, WS; nephews Alexis (Jenny) Hawkins of Brooklyn NY, and Adrian (Ginger) Hawkins of Fairfax, VA; and numerous loved great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Robert 'Bob' Hawkins, brother Richard 'Dick' Hawkins, and her sister-in-law Stephanie Hawkins Pierret.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com