Arthur Patay

He was born on March 29, 1917 in Budapest Hungary to Samuel and Ottilia Patay. 

He was preceded in death by his wife on July14, 2010; his parents; his brother, Ferenc; and cousin, Joseph Patay

Surviving are his 4 sons, Stephen of Torrance, Calif., Gabriel (Joyce) of Yardley, Penn., Arthur J.of Peoria, and George (Muriel) of Evanston.  He has 6 grandsons; 3 granddaughters; 12 great-grandchildren; a nephew, Miklos Patay of Soymar, Hungary; and 2 cousins, Sandor and Pali of Budapest.

He graduated from Lonayi Utca Protestant High School in Budapest in 1934. He  received his Bachelor of Science in agriculture from the University of Debrecen.

After graduation, he apprenticed at a large farm at Soreg-Puszta, Hungary. For his compulsory service, he went to a Hungarian military officers training school where he achieved the rank of master sergeant.

On August 29, 1940, he married Esther Szilassy in Budapest.  Their son Stephen, was born in 1941.  Subsequently, they moved to his mother's estate in Beretto, Slovakia.  Their second son, Gabriel was born in 1943.

In 1944, because of the approaching Russian army, they fled in 2 covered wagons to Losonc, Slovakia.  Shortly thereafter, he was drafted back into the military and served in a mountain artillery unit on the Russian front.  Their third son, Arthur Joseph was born in 1945.  At the end of the war in 1945, the Russians sent him for 3 years to a forced labor camp.

When he was finally released in 1948, he joined his wife and children in West Germany.  In December 1949 the family immigrated to the United States and moved to Hopedale, Illinois under the sponsorship of Walter Birky.

In 1951, he obtained a job at Caterpillar, Inc. and the family moved to Pekin, where his fourth son, George, was born.  H worked 31 years at Caterpillar, and retired in 1982 as a parts support analyst in inventory control at the Morton facility.

He was a lifelong Christian and in Pekin joined Trinity Lutheran Church in 1960 where, besides being a faithful member, he served on the church council, as chairman of Elders, usher, and frequently assisted as a communion helper.

He served 2 years as chairman of the Peoria Hungarian American Society and served a term as president of Caterpillar Toastmasters Club.  In addition he was an active member of Friends of the Pekin Library, Genealogical Society of Tazewell County, Pekin YWCA, and the French club, "Les Ames de la France." 

He enjoyed participating in the annual "Great Decisions" discussion program and regularly attended the Peoria World Affairs Conferences.

Art stayed active hunting, fishing, playing tennis, bowling, and swimming.  He enjoyed listening to music at area cultural events, and loved traveling the United States and Europe with his wife.  He was also an avid gardener.

He sincerely treasured his family, friends, and neighbors.  He will be greatly missed by all.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, January 14, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pekin.  Rev. Dr. Rodger P. Abatie will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes and Crematory in Pekin and also from 9:30 to 10 a.m., Friday at the church.  Entombment will be in the mausoleum at Prairie Rest Cemetery in Delavan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd School, both in Pekin, and The Passages Hospice Charitable Foundation, 134 McLean Blvd., Elgin, IL 60123

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com