Pat Albert (Thomas), 84

Pat Albert (Thomas), 84, of Ollie, passed  away at English Valley Care Center in North English on April 14, 2024. A graveside funeral service will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Springfield Cemetery near Delta. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

You could find her this time of year with her hands in the dirt appreciating the new spring growth of her many flower beds including a butterfly garden at her beautiful home of 50 years located just outside of Ollie. She also enjoyed watching her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren play sports. The Iowa Hawkeyes and Green Bay Packers were her teams of choice. She really loved working on the farm which in 2015 was presented The Century Farm Award by The Iowa Dept of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. This certificate is given to a farm that has been held in the same family for 100 years. Pat was so proud of this and her heritage.

She loved all animals with the exception of snakes and the rabbits that would attempt to eat her flowers, but she had exceptional skills with a 4-10 shotgun. Other favorites included reading the weekly paper front to back, traveling especially to somewhere warm, country music, her favorite Willie Nelson, dancing and cooking. She was famous for her fried chicken and Christmas candy. Her kitchen cabinet stored about 75 cookbooks.



After riding her horse to country school she attended Tri-County Schools and graduated in 1957. Pat participated in many extracurricular activities including choir, theater, cheerleading, class officer, spent time as a librarian, and was the homecoming queen.

She excelled in typing being able to type 70 WPM for which she was delighted to receive an award for that her senior year.



Pat attended beauty school At Indian Hills in Ottumwa followed by opening a hair salon in What Cheer with her sister Catherine. She later worked as a secretary for the superintendent of the Sigourney School system, where she loved interacting with students. She was known for making her special punch for the football team on Friday game nights. In 1977 she began employment at The Natural Pipeline of America as the office manager where she eventually retired. Then after came out of retirement to work part time for Keokuk County Insurance.



Pat is preceded in death by her parents Joseph Thomas and Audrey Mae (Fear) Thomas of Delta. Her sister Virginia Thomas of Delta, sister Catherine of Tilton and brother Gene Thomas of Delta.

Surviving are her children Bryan (Esther) Bunting of North Liberty, Ryan Bunting (Nancy Garber) of What Cheer and Tami (Rick) Saloom of Rincon Puerto. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren Ryan Bunting Jr (Jess Mumford) (Dylan, Harvey, Ryder and Greyson)

Of South English, Nikole Rae (Ricky) Orta of St. Petersburg, Florida (Aj and Elle Bea), Katie Bunting (Magnolia and Callahan) of Des Moines, and Tyler Bunting (Chelsea) of Coralville.