Patricia Ann Nollen

Patricia Ann Nollen was born on July 30, 1942 the oldest of 2 children born to Lee and Frances (Schulte) Irwin in Harlan, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed a Catholic. Pat attended school in Harlan graduating in 1960. On July 17, 1961 she married Ronald Nollen from Defiance. Four children came in 9 years. Ann, Kathleen, Randy and Lee. They lived on the Nollen family farm for the first couple of years. They bought a house in Defiance and completely remade the house into a home. In 1971 the family moved to Denison and lived there for many years. Patricia worked at various jobs, Squealer Feeds out of high school. Eventide after moving to Denison in 1971 then Crawford County Memorial Hospital, then later at Job Corps.

In 1979 Pat and Ronnie divorced. Pat continued to work for job corps but became a recruiter traveling all over the state. In 1994 Pat moved to Kansas City and lived with Kathy, where they became Chiefs and Royals fans. In 2002 Pat lost her youngest child, Lee. She was heartbroken and said a Mom should never have to bury her kid. In 2007 Pat moved to Colorado with Kathy in Arvada. She enjoyed the mountains.

After retiring, Pat moved back to Harlan and lived in Westridge apartments where she made many friends and kept active. She loved going to Avoca to play bingo. Pat liked to travel and in 2016 she went with Ann on a two week trip on the Mississippi River up on one side down on the other. In 2019, Kathy traveled to Nashville for a work trip, and Pat and Ann drove down to meet her. While there, they visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and Pat and Ann also attended the Grand Ole Opry. On their way home, a wrong turn led them to Graceland and the Johnny Cash childhood home and museum.

For her 80th birthday Pat went on The Riverboat Twilight and loved it. Later that year, Pat was diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma. She had a port placed in Omaha where her girls took her and Kathy stayed with her for many weeks getting her to and from treatment. No tears, no fear, all faith and hope was her motto. After treatment and lots of love she was cancer free. In the last few years she had some health issues and decided to stay at Salem Lutheran Home.

Patricia passed away peacefully at Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 attaining the age of 84 years, 2 months and 13 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Frances Irwin and her son, Lee.

She is survived by her children Ann (Don) Motley of Eagle Grove, Kathy Finney of Arvada, Colorado and Randy Nollen of Westphalia, eight grandchildren: Landis (Tana) Motley and their children Matthew and Olivia of Eagle Grove, Andrew Motley of Eagle Grove, and Kelsey Motley and her husband Ryan Ballman of Milwaukie, Oregon. Collin and Aidan Finney of Arvada Colorado, Julia Nollen of Denison and Maggie Nollen of Teltow, Germany and Alex Nollen of Westphalia. Her Brother Ken (Barb) South Dakota and her Nephew Jesse (Katie) Irwin and her great nephew Cooper Irwin, all of Custer South Dakota many other relatives and friends.