Robert "Pat" Patterson

Robert "Pat" Patterson, age 86, of Ione, CA, passed peacefully at home with his family by his side on Saturday, February 24, 2018. He was born on April 25, 1931 in Berlin, New Hampshire. Pat proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force from June 1948 until retirement in June 1968. His military career included assignments to many critical headquarter staff positions - his last one was with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. When he returned to Ione in July 1968, he went to work at Owens-Illinois until he retired in May 1990 as a plant supervisor. He loved Ione very much. So much that he became deeply involved in city government. He first worked with the Ione Park Commission & Ione Planning Commission. In 1969 he became highly active within the Ione Picnic Association and went on to become president of the association during a 3 year period that included the Centennial Celebration of 1976. He then went on to become a City Council member for 10 years and mayor of Ione for 8 years. Pat spent many hours working closely with members of the Ione community. He was particularly proud of some of the work done at Howard Park - including his involvement with the renovation of the first Ed Hughes Arena, the construction of the Ernie Bonham little league park, providing fencing for the race track, and the repurposing of booths from the old California State Fairgrounds for use in Ione (including Evelyn Bishop Hall). Pat was also a member of the Ione volunteer fire department. He and Bob Silva (former owner of Brodie's Coffee Shop) were responsible for the beginning the tradition of an annual 4th of July celebration at Howard Park - which serves as a fundraiser for the Ione fire department and allowed for the new addition to the original fire house on Jackson Street. In his retirement years, Pat spent nearly every summer on the coast at Dillon Beach. He would camp and go fishing in his boat for salmon and halibut with his many fishing buddies at Lawson's Landing. If he was not fishing, he was always working on some type of woodworking project at home. He was also an active member of the American Legion Post 108 for 23 years and the VFW Post. Pat leaves behind his beloved wife of 62 years, Janice nee Costa Patterson of Ione, CA; daughter, Terri (Steve) Thurgood of O'Fallon, IL; sons, Ronald (Lorraine) Patterson, of Chino, CA and Michael Patterson of Woodbridge, CA; sister, Ann Brady of New Durham, NH; sister-in-law, Billie Costa; brother-in-law, Rocky (Wendy) Costa; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Clare and Vera Patterson, his brother David Patterson, and his beloved canine companion Abby. Friends are invited to attend a mass of Christian burial at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, March 9, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 20 Relihan Dr, Ione, CA. Interment will follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Pat's name to Hospice of Amador and Calaveras Counties, P.O. Box 595, Jackson, CA 95642. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.danerimortuary.com and signing the guest book.