Patricia A Pagel

Patricia Ann Stanley Pagel, age 90, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on 3/27/1935 to parents John “Harold” Stanley and Lillian “Lucille” Walker Stanley. She passed away on 10/18/2025 at The Fountains Senior Living Community listening to Frank Sinatra. She was under the care of St. Croix Hospice.

Pat adored her parents and loved to reminisce about fond memories of her childhood growing up in the west end of Davenport. She had a large extended family of many wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a teen, Pat worked at Bill Day Drug Store at the soda fountain. This is where she met her future husband, Ray Pagel, who stocked shelves at the drug store. She graduated from Davenport High School (now Central High School) and completed nurse’s training at St. Lukes to become an R.N. Pat worked as a nurse for OB-GYN physicians, Dr. Balzer and Dr. Edgerton in Davenport. She later left this position to provide in-home nursing care for her mother for many years. Pat married Ray Pagel on October 6th , 1956. They were married 68 years. Ray passed away in March of this year. They had one daughter, Susan, and a grandson, Nick. She thought Nick was pretty special and loved to tell people about her grandson, the musician and computer engineer.

Pat was a lifelong member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Davenport. For many years, she played cards (500) with a group that first originated from her mother’s friends. She and Ray hosted many parties with friends in their home over the years and enjoyed memberships at the Moose and Elks. Pat was a talker and would easily strike up conversations with cashiers and total strangers. She spent many hours on the phone talking to friends and kept in touch with many of her classmates from nurse’s training and her lifelong bests friends, Patty Rossi Wirtz and Jan Peters, up until their passing.

Pat always loved animals. She became especially attached to their Siberian cat, Cate, who became her constant companion in recent years. Pat also had a deep love for music. After losing her vision due to macular degeneration, listening to music became her favorite pastime. She loved her Echo device. She enjoyed a wide variety of music, but her favorites were Patsy Cline, Anne Murray, Elvis Presley, Michael Buble, and Frank Sinatra. One of the highlights of her life was seeing Frank Sinatra perform at the Mark of the Quad Cities (a surprise from her daughter). She spoke of that experience often. During the last year of her life, music therapy became such an important part of her week. Pat loved her time with Laura, her St. Croix music therapist—they even composed a song together.

Pat had a colorful, unforgettable personality, often sprinkled with a little spice and notes of playful sarcasm. She made a fabulous pumpkin pie (As long as someone else made the crust!) which was made with an unusual secret method handed down to her by her mother. She also made the best scalloped corn in the world (no Jiffy mix). She loved eating chocolate and sharing it with others. Pat routinely kept chocolate and starlight mints in her walker and would surprise staff at Palmer Hills with a piece of candy. She would alert her daughter when the supply was running dangerously low.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, many aunts and uncles, her sister-in-law, Mary Pagel Kruger, her brother-in-law, John Kruger, and many friends. She is survived by her daughter, Sue (Pagel) Wood, of Davenport, her grandson, Nick, of Silvis, Illinois, and her son-in-law, Marty, of Omaha, Nebraska. She is also survived by Cate (kitty), who has now been adopted by her grandson Nick.

Heartfelt thanks are extended to all the treasured staff at Palmer Hills Retirement Community where Pat and Ray resided for several years in independent living. They are family. Thank you also to all the wonderful staff at The Fountains Senior Living (assisted living) and the many caring professionals of St. Croix Hospice. Much appreciation is also extended to Pat’s medical care team, Dr. Binkley, Dr. Coyne, and her former physical therapist, Debbie.

Pat will be laid to rest at the Arsenal Cemetery next to her husband, Ray. There will be a private burial with no visitation/services at Pat’s request.