| Patricia L. Haven |
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White Funeral Home
Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. – Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church followed by burial at Mt. Hope Cemetery, all in Independence. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Patricia was born June 30, 1931, in Independence, at her home on Chatham Street, the daughter of Clarence and Emma (Klein) Nielsen. She attended school in Independence and graduated with the high school class of 1949, before attending Luther College in Decorah, IA. On May 16, 1954, she was united in marriage to Burnell Kaye Haven at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence. She worked for her dad and brother as secretary and treasurer of the family business, Wapsie Valley Creamery in Independence. She worked there for over 40 years and retired in 1995. Just two weeks before her passing, she was able to celebrate her 94th birthday with friends and family at Lexington Estates. Pat was a dedicated lifelong member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence, where she was baptized and confirmed. She was also active on many committees over the years, including past chairperson, secretary, and treasurer of the church circle group, past chairperson of Evangelism, member of the quilting group, and while she was in school, she was a Sunday School teacher. She also served on alter care and volunteered to deliver sermon tapes and communion to members in nursing homes. Pat was very community minded. She was a Cub Scout den mother for both of her sons. She was a volunteer mentor at Independence schools, a member of the Buchanan County Health Center Auxiliary. She volunteered at the hospital as a receptionist at the x-ray desk, and she volunteered to take Lexington Estates residence shopping at Wal-Mart. Pat kept a very active retirement, serving on various calling committees for different events, served as chairperson of Spring Luncheons, and she was formerly a poll watcher. Her community involvement also included the Indytel Programming committee, Chamber of Commerce, Buchanan County Tourism, and she worked at the depot. In her free time, Pat enjoyed being a member of the Wapsie Golf Club and she loved golfing with her family and friends. She was also an active traveler and enjoyed all the trips she took with her husband and friends. She loved making new friends along the way. Pat and Bernie were devoted schnauzer lovers. All dogs for that matter, even her neighbors’ dogs. She loved working outdoors with her flowers and helping with yard work at the River Ridge addition. She was very proud of her home and community. She had a close-knit relationship with neighbors, and it was special to have the neighbor’s children come visit. Pat really loved all outdoor activities. She enjoyed canoeing, water skiing, and riding bicycles. She loved swimming in the river in her early years, and later in life she enjoyed water aerobics and playing water volleyball at the health center pool. Pat is survived by her two sons, Jeffrey (Brenda) Haven of Plano, TX, and Matthew (Judy) Haven of Cedarburg, WI; four grandchildren, Courtney (Andy Collins) Haven of Pittsburg, PA, Cory (Esther) Haven of Federal Way, WA, Elisabeth (Dan) Haven Tracht of Plano TX, and Katherine Haven of Lake Stevens, WA; five great grandchildren, Reagan Collins, Myles Haven, Dylan Tracht, Lanie Tracht, and Tyler Tracht. She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved spouse, and her three brothers, Frank Nielsen, Jim Nielsen, and Wilbur Nielsen. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Buchanan County Health Center Auxiliary or the Buchanan County Health Trust; ~by web, https://bchealth.org ~ by phone, (319)332-0905 ~ or by mail, Buchanan County Health Center c/o Health Trust, 1600 First Street East, Independence, IA 50644. Condolences may be posted at www.White-MtHope.com. |
