Florence "Pat" McCormick

Florence "Pat" McCormick, 99, of Sioux City died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, at a Sioux City hospital. A celebration of life service will be 10 a.m. Monday at Riverside Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. A Memorial Mass will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Holy Spirit Retirement Home Chapel for anyone that would like to attend. Florence "Pat" McCormick, the daughter of Albert and Betty Polson, was born on Jan. 30, 1914, in Wausa Neb. She attended a country school outside of Wausa, where her teacher boarded at her house. She married Martin McCormick on March 10, 1938, in the rectory of the Catholic church in Bloomfield, Neb. Pat and Martin farmed in Bloomfield Neb., Correctionville, Iowa, and Anthon, Iowa. They then moved to Leeds, Iowa, where Martin worked at Bartlett Elevator. They later bought their first home in Sioux City. Martin was killed in the Bartlett elevator explosion in 1974. After selling her house, Pat lived in the Riverside Gardens Apartments, where she made many friends and enjoyed the weekly get togethers as well as the birthday parties they had for her. In the summer of 2010, Pat moved to Holy Spirit Retirement Home. Pat belonged to many clubs throughout her life, including VASA (a Swedish organization). She enjoyed embroidery and crochet, making dozens of afghans and embroidered kitchen towels, which she gave to family and friends. She loved spending time with her family, and could always be counted on to provide help and advice. Pat was a member of St. Boniface Church in Sioux City for 63 years. In later years, she also joined Riverside Lutheran Church, close to her apartment community. Pat is survived by her daughter, Sharon Johnston of Webster City, Iowa; grandchildren, Scott and Kristy Mahan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Krista and Tracy Claude of Prescott Wis., and Katrina and Mat Johnson of Ankeny, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Connor and Colin Mahan, Dalton and Riley Claude, and Payton and Camden Johnson; sister, Arlene Francis of Chico Calif.; sisters-in-law, Bernita (Marvin) Slechta, Catherine Blaser, and Elsie McCormick; brother-in-law, John (Phyllis) McCormick; many nieces and nephews, including Margaret Croxen who gave her such special care; and many good friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son, Martin Clarence McCormick Jr.; her parents; two brothers; and eight sisters.