Patricia A. Fowler

Patricia A. Fowler, 83, of Geneseo, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, surrounded by her loving family, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2018, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Geneseo Chapel. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. prior to the funeral service on Monday, at the funeral home. Cremation rites will be accorded following the services and a private inurnment will take place at Oakwood Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Patricia Fowler Memorial Fund and will be distributed to local charities by the family.

Pat was born on February 9, 1935, the daughter of Margaret Swanson, in Geneseo, IL. She graduated from Geneseo High School with the class of 1953. Pat married Gene “Arch” Fowler on June 19, 1953. The couple later separated. Pat worked at the Rock Island Arsenal as a tech data specialist for 18 years, retiring in 1999. She had also been a waitress in several Geneseo restaurants for many years. She has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Geneseo since 1945. Pat treasured time with family, playing games, flower gardening, and always making holidays memorable. Last year she moved from her home of 49.5 years, to a condo, where she felt like a queen in her palace, decorating it beautifully. Each year Pat looked forward to putting up her Christmas tree, which proudly displayed 485 ornaments that she collected over nine decades. Pat enjoyed puzzles, coffee at her kitchen table, as well as cooking and baking. She always received compliments on her pie crust being as delicious as her filling. Years ago she took cake decorating classes to present family and friends with beautiful, personal cakes. In 2010, Pat, her daughters, and granddaughter, took a “trip of a lifetime” to London, where they met Pat’s pen pal of 63 years. Nothing pleased her more than watching and “coaching” her Cubbies and finally seeing them win the World Series.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Kim (Bill) Bevan, Bellevue, IA, and Jody (Chris) Leamen, Geneseo, IL; five grandchildren: Lacey (Phil) Ruden, Justin (Stacy) Bevan, Meagan (Brett) Henderson, Ben Swanson, and Ethan Swanson; and seven great-grandchildren, Rylee, Taber, Garret, Leigha, Autumn, Aiden, and Olive. Pat is also survived by her dear friends, Joanie Crider and Donna Lambin.

Pat was preceded in death by her grandmother, Laura Swanson, whom raised her, and her mother, Margaret Swanson.