Patty Peterson

Patty Peterson, mother of our two wonderful daughters, grandmother to our adorable granddaughter, and my rock since meeting at East High School back in the 1960s, died Wednesday April 20, 2016 at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Complications after undergoing Chemotherapy during the past seven months finally became too much to overcome. She was 64.

Patty is survived by daughters, Melissa (Curt) Brooks, Katie (Trevor) Powell; granddaughter, Kharington Powell; husband, Randy; sister, Nancy (Bryan) Hallenbeck; many nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Kathy Richards and stepmother Doris Faaborg. Patty was preceded in death by her mother and father, Maxine and Ray Faaborg.

Special thanks to the wonderful nursing staff, support staff, and doctors who so lovingly looked over Patty since mid-September. The procession in and out of Patty’s room Wednesday morning was heartwarming. The staff became our extended family.

A daughter of pharmacists, Patty essentially grew up in Faaborg Pharmacy, which occupied the corner of East 14th and Guthrie back in the day when Green River fountain drinks were the rage. Patty attended East High School, graduating in 1969, and then attended Drake University, where she received her Pharmacy Degree.

Most recently, Patty was a staff Pharmacist at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, but she also worked at Mercy during her 40-plus years as a Pharmacist.

When not saving lives, Patty was feeding them – more than 20 at a time when it was her turn to host a holiday meal. Patty specialized in everything, but mostly was known for Apple pies and over-the-top appetizers. No one went home hungry.

Many years while growing up, the Faaborgs vacationed at Okoboji. Many years after the birth of daughters Melissa and Katie, Disney World in Florida became our vacation destination of preference – and that even continued after Kharington was born.

During the winter, we skied the slopes of Breckenridge, Copper and Vail in Colorado. Patty even skied a few months before Katie was born, sporting a hand-made sign on her back that said “Skiing for Two.”

Patty liked sports, especially college basketball, and this started while attending Drake back in its basketball hey-day. Her favorite players were the guys on the Final Four team.
That was Patty. That’s the Patty family members will remember.

The family will greet friends from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th St. SW in Altoona. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the funeral home with burial to follow at Altoona Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to John Stoddard Cancer Center in loving memory of Patty.

On-line condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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