Patricia A. (Mattern) Van Winkle

Patricia A. (Mattern) Van Winkle, 85, of Ord, Nebraska, formerly of Ainsworth, Nebraska, passed away at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska on August 4, 2021. Pat was born July 19, 1936, at Hyannis, Nebraska. She was the daughter of Donald and Hazel (Burgess) Mattern, and was the middle child of three. Pat graduated from Burwell High School in 1954. Burwell had a roller rink at the Legion dance hall where Pat went skating almost every night. It was there that she met two men that would become a big part of her life. First she met Everett Lech from Ord, and they dated until Everett left to serve in the Army. Pat then met Roy Van Winkle, who was also from Ord and also frequented the skating rink. They dated throughout high school, and were married on November 15, 1954 at Burwell, Nebraska. This date was chosen because it was the wedding date of Pats Grandpa Harry and Grandma Anna Burgess. They both had a huge influence on her growing-up years, both musically and faith based. Fiddle playing, dancing, praying every day, and reciting the Rosary were all memories that Pat held dear from her Burgess family. Pat and Roy were blessed with four children, Michael, Cathy, Debra and David. Their life together took them to St. Louis, Missouri, back to Ord, then to Plainview, Nebraska in 1962, when Roy became a State Patrolman. During this time, besides raising four kids, Pat worked as a receptionist/makeup artist for photographers, Harold and Tina Mauck. In 1973 the Patrol transferred Roy to Ainsworth. Pat had numerous jobs in Ainsworth, first working at the local lumber yard as bookkeeper for 2 years, then for a grocery store as bookkeeper for 11 years. Next she was the manager of the Senior Center for 8 years, and finally was the Social Service Director at the nursing home for 8 years. Pat retired in 1999 to stay at home caring for Roy, who was in poor health. Pat was a devout Catholic. She sang and played guitar in Ainsworth along with her daughter Deb Carr for church services for many years. Music always was a huge part of her life, and the musicality in her family carried on to her children and grandchildren. Pat believed her greatest blessing in life was her family. She was devoted to her 4 children, Mike, Cathy, Deb and Dave; her 7 grandchildren, Melissa, Mark, Amy, Jenny, Matt, Cam and Brandon; 14 great-grandchildren, Dani, Oscar, Isley, Wyatt, Addison, Alayna, Sydney, William, Andrew, Chris, Blakley, Barrett, Colt and Caitlyn. In 2008, Pat reconnected with her old high school sweetheart, Everett Lech, 57 years later, both having lost their spouses in 2007. Pat and Everett enjoyed 13 happy contented years together in Ord, both being cancer survivors, and both totally devoted to each other. Pat and Everett passed away within a week of each other. Pat is survived by three children: Michael Van Winkle, Creighton Nebraska, Cathy (Larry) Radant, Valentine, Nebraska, Dave (Connie) Van Winkle, Fowler, Kansas. Grandchildren: Melissa (Bobby) Dishman, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Mark Smith, Colorado City, Colorado, Amy (Chuck) Wood, Blackburn, North Dakota, Jennifer Fischer, Bassett, Nebraska, Matt (Megan) Smith, Fair Play, South Carolina, Cameron (Brenda) Dauer, Weatherford, Texas, and Brandon Van Winkle, Norfolk, Nebraska; sister, Judy (Jack) Hearn, Lipan, Texas; son-in-law, Patrick Carr, O'Neill, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Maxine Mattern, Ainsworth Nebraska; brother-in-law, Gene (Karen) Van Winkle, Van Cleave, Missouri and all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Roy; dear Everett; daughter Debra; brother Wayne, and infant grandson Lee Michael.
Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, (August 10, 2021) at the St. Pius X Catholic Church in Ainsworth with Father Mike Wetovick and Father Mark Maresh as Co-Celebrants at the service. DeAnn Morse provided music and the songs played were, “Hallelujah”, “Here I Am, Lord”, “On Eagle’s Wings”, and “I Will Always Love You.” Casket Bearers were: Mark Smith, Matt Smith, Cameron Dauer, Brandon Van Winkle, Bobby Dishman, Chuck Wood, Corby Fischer and Larry Burgess. Honorary Casket Bearers were: Larry Radant, Brad Lech, Bernie Burgess, Dave Burgess, Gary Burgess, Ron Strand, Paul Dubs, Sid Dubs and Ted Dubs. Interment followed in the Ainsworth Cemetery in Ainsworth. Memorials were suggested to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or the ALS Association in Patricia’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was entrusted with the service arrangements.