Max Patterson

Max Bruce Patterson, 71, of Marshalltown, died Thursday, July 7, 2011, at his home, surrounded by his loving family while under their care and Iowa River Hospice. Following cremation, Celebration of Life Services for Max will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, July 10, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church in Marshalltown. There will not be a visitation. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Max and his family.Max was born February 15, 1940, in Highmore, South Dakota, the son of Marion and Anna (Sesker) Patterson. He was raised and educated in Highmore until he was nine years of age when their family moved to Farrar, Iowa. Max graduated from Farrar High School and went on to graduate from the University of Northern Iowa with a double major in Business and Economics. Max was united in marriage to Sandra Enfield, in Bethany, Missouri on October 17, 1959. To this union three children were born; Brian, Jackie and Berin. Following their marriage Max worked as a Sales Management Consultant on the East Coast before they moved to Marshalltown where he worked for Chicago Northwestern Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad. Max also owned and operated Closet Classics of Iowa along with his wife Sandy. Max led a very active life and above all loved to spend time with both his family at home and his church family. Max enjoyed being a Scout Master and was very active with his sons in Boy Scouts during their childhood. Max was so happy to find his sister Patti later in his life. He was very delighted to build their relationship, to know her and to grow to love her as his sister.He enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren and their trips together to Branson, Missouri. He liked raising a garden and watching it grow and mature. Max was also an avid reader which led him to his active role as a part of the Book Ministry at the Marshall County Jail. Max was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school, served on the Staff Parish Relations Committee and was a member of the Sermon Conversations group which met every Wednesday night. Max was also a member of the Marshalltown Rental Property Association, the Marshall County Lead Task Force, the Masons of Full Moon Lodge #561 in Melbourne, Iowa, the Marshall County Republican Central Committee, the Potluck Friends and the Promise Keepers.Max is survived by his wife Sandra of Marshalltown, his children: Brian (Jolie) Patterson of Fisher, Indiana, Jackie (Robb) Pippin of Marshalltown, and Berin Patterson of Marshalltown, his four grandchildren: Jacob and Sarah Pippin of Marshalltown and Jamie and Zachary Patterson of Fisher, Indiana and his sister Patti (Mark) Reese of Irvine, Kentucky.Max was preceded in death by his parents and his mother and father-in-law Galen and Wilma Enfield.