Patsy Ann Braden

Patsy Ann Braden, 84, of Oskaloosa passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, October 5, 2016, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House. Patsy was born in Oskaloosa on May 15, 1934 to Leonard and Rosella (Schultz) Whipple. She graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1951 and in 1952 she married the love-of-her-life, LuVerne “Bun” Braden. She and Bun spent most of their married life in the Oskaloosa area but lived a number of years in Cedar Rapids where they still have dear friends. Patsy dedicated her life to being a loving wife and mother and she excelled at both. She loved her Heavenly Father, organizing the Boys and Girls Missionary Crusade (BGMC) program at her church, the Chicago Cubs, white gravy, and a good book. But her passion was children. She loved her own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren fiercely and devotedly, but God gave her a special love for kids that stretched far beyond her own family. She was known as “Grandma Pat” to generations of children in the Oskaloosa area through both her volunteer time in the local schools as the grandma who would come in and read stories and her devoted work as a Sunday School, Missionette and Children’s Church teacher and leader during her decades of service at Oskaloosa First Assembly of God. She touched innumerable people’s lives, spoke more kind words, gave more smiles, wiped more tears and gave more hugs than are even imaginable. She lived a life of love and service and Heaven is definitely more crowded because of Grandma Pat. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Larry Whipple, a sister-in-law Connie Whipple and her infant daughter Jo Dea. Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 64 years, LuVerne; her two sons: Greg “Butch” (Deb) Braden of Oskaloosa and Jeffrey (Roxanne) Braden of Marion; her ten grandchildren: Shannon (Carl) Gausman, Jeremy (Joie) Braden, Ryan (Jesse) Goemaat, Amy (Shannon) Garringer, Eric (Nikki) Braden, Dustin (Harmony) Braden, Nicole VanderVeer, T.J. (Karen) Latcham, Lyndsey Brennan, and Miranda Brennan, and her 20 great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank Hospice for their warm and caring support for Patsy and her family and asks that any memorials be directed to Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4 Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 7, 2016, with the family present from 4 to 6 p.m. at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at First Assembly of God in Oskaloosa, with Pastor Mike Dotson officiating. Interment of ashes will take place at a later time.

Patsy Ann Braden

May 15, 1934 - October 5, 2016