Patricia May Baldus

Patricia (Pat) Baldus passed away June 11, 2018 at Israel Family Hospice House. Her children and grandchildren will be greeting family and friends at St. Cecilia Catholic Church (2900 Hoover Ave., Ames, IA 50010) from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM on June 22, 2018. A mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 AM. Immediately after the mass, family and friends are invited to join a Celebration of Life for Norman and Patricia Baldus also at the church.

Pat was born September 14, 1930 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Frank and Margaret (Bins) Durbala. The family moved shortly thereafter to a farm outside of Lovilia, Iowa. Pat attended Ottumwa Heights Academy and graduated as valedictorian in 1948. She continued her education at Drake University in Des Moines Iowa. After college, she joined Meredith Publishing Company as an assistant manager of Personnel Services until her marriageto Norman Baldus of Story City, Iowa on November 26, 1955. Following their marriage, Norman worked for Baldus Hatchery in Story City while Pat managed the home and their children.

Pat and her family moved to Webster City, Iowa when Norman joined Fareway Stores in 1962. The family transferred to Charles City, Iowa in 1964 where they stayed until a final transfer took them to Ames in 1979. In Charles City, Pat worked first as a child care provider and then joined the staff at the YMCA for a number of years. After working at the Y, she was employed at Citizen’s National Bank. It was in Charles City, that she developed a love for golf. You would often find the whole family out at Wildwood, golfing and enjoying themselves. Pat was also an avid bridge player all of her life. She played in various card clubs where ever she lived.

In Ames, Pat worked as an Administrative Assistant for the Director of Engineering Research at Sauer Danfoss until retirement in 1992. Pat was proud of her professional career but her proudest accomplishment of her life was her loving devotion to her husband, children, and grandchildren. Pat and Norman’s loving support allowed them to grow up in a home full of love, laughter, and encouragement. Her family knows that her time on earth is now over. She has gone on to join Norman in heaven to both golf together as well as join card games with the other Durbala and Baldus relatives who have been holding a chair for her.

Pat is survived by her children: Elizabeth (Steven) Collins of Austin, Texas, Brian (Renelda) of Vinton, Iowa, Andy (fiancée Vicki Davis) of Sun City, Arizona, Karen (Stephen) Clemmons of Ames, and Jeffrey (Karol) of Huxley, Iowa. She also has seven grandchildren: Heather Baldus, Amy (Tony) Ong, Dillon Baldus, Daniel Baldus, Lindsey Baldus, Samantha Collins, and Gwendolyn Collins. She is also survived by one sister, Jean Hollinrake of Lovilia.

Pat is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and three brothers: Robert, Thomas and Marion Durbala and her sister Margaret Fisher.

Memorial contributions may be directed toward the family to be used to honor Patricia at a later date.