Patricia Maxwell

Patricia Maxwell of Rhodes, Iowa, passed away Monday, March 07, 2011 at the Story County Medical Center surrounded by her family and under the care of Hospice.Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at St Josephs Catholic Church in State Center, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 from 5:00 to 7:30 pm with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the family to establish a scholarship in her name at a later date. For condolences please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family funeral Home is caring for Pat and her family. Phone 641-844-1234.Patricia (Pat) Maxwell, 81, was born May 9, 1929, in Des Moines, Iowa to Dennis and Frances (Ginter) Dodd. She graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) in Davenport, Iowa. She attained a teaching certificate from Iowa Teachers' College and received her bachelors degree at Drake University. She taught in two one room country schools. One in Walcott and the other, Blue Grass #7 from 1947 to 1953. Pat married Gary Maxwell on August 22, 1953, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rhodes, Iowa. After her children were born, she taught in the West Marshall school district until her retirement in 1989. Pat was an amazing mother to her children, anyone they brought home, her students, and many young teachers that were far from their families. She enjoyed many hobbies including travel with Gary and any of her children or grandchildren that were available, gardening and raising hostas, playing cards, entertaining groups of people, cooking, sewing and crocheting. She loved spending time with her family and friends and would often organize gatherings to bring them all together. Pat led a full and productive life; she raised five children, had a huge garden and worked full time.Pat is survived by her husband Gary of 57 years and five children, Barb (Bruce) Martin of Ames, Iowa, Kathy (Steve) Moser of Nevada, Iowa, Greg (Jamie) Maxwell of State Center, Iowa, Lori (Jeff) Kunch of State Center, Iowa and Mick (Paul) Veren of Albion, Iowa and grandchildren Amy (Jason) Harrison Vail, Colorado; Andy Moser of Nevada, Iowa, Travis Wibholm of Melbourne, Iowa, Andrea (Ryan) Cummings of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Erin (Justin) Silence of Rhodes, Iowa, Derek (fianc Samantha Gass) Martin of West Des Moines, Iowa, Jessie Maxwell of Ames, Iowa, Alicia Martin of Burbank, California; Jamie Maxwell of Grundy Center, Iowa; Alex Veren of Troy, Pennsylvania; Lucas Moser of Nevada, Iowa and Zach Veren of Albion, Iowa; great grandchildren, Ellie Moser and Brady Moser of Nevada, Iowa and Dusty Silence of Rhodes, Iowa. She is also survived by her sister Barb Stumphy, her brother John (Dan Russo) Dodd, sister-in-law Sharon Dodd, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.She was preceded in death by her daughter Jacki Maxwell, her parents, her sister Louise Dodd Muir, and her brother George Dodd.