John Patrick (Pat) Armstrong

John Patrick (Pat) Armstrong, 65 of Ponca, NE passed away on January 12, 2017 in a Sioux City hospital.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 21 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ponca, NE with Father Andy Sohm officiating. Pat will be laid to rest in his Husker red casket in the South Creek Calvary Catholic Cemetery in rural Ponca. A luncheon will follow at the church. Visitation will start at 5 p.m. at the church on Friday the 20th with the family present. The Wake prayer service will be at 7 p.m. with the rosary led by Knights of Columbus. Everyone is encouraged to wear Husker attire.John Patrick Armstrong was born January 16, l951, in Ponca, NE, the son of Gerald and Frances (Kneifl) Armstrong. He lived at home while attending Special Ed classes in Allen. In 1972, he was employed at the Northeast Nebraska Opportunity Center in South Sioux City. Later, he worked for Sam Zimmerman trailer sales and for Evan Backman with his garbage collection business. Over the years, he owned several German Shepherd dogs and was very faithful in feeding and walking them. He mowed the lawn and rode his bike to get the mail. Pat took care of the church's refuse each week.Pat had a great love and passion for his faith and served daily and Saturday evening Masses at St. Joseph's for over 40 years. Pat was taught by the late Father Paul Schwaab and served 11 priests in his lifetime. In 2000 he received the St. Joseph's Worker award. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Pat was an avid Husker fan and had his picture taken with Tom Osborne on two different occasions. Every game day he would spread his Husker memorabilia out on his bed while enthusiastically cheering for his Huskers.Pat lived at home with his mother until 2005 when he moved to the Elms Health Center.Pat is survived by one brother, Gary (Margarete) Armstrong, Ponca, NE, two sisters, Mary Armstrong Kernersville, NC, Jeanne (Edward) Montgomery, Bellevue, NE, sister-in-law, Jolane Armstrong, Sioux City, IA and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Philip Armstrong, an infant brother, James, his grandparents, George and Edna Armstrong and Greg and Mary Kneifl, infant nephew Paul Armstrong and niece Susan (Armstrong) Koeppe.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Pat's family for designation to be made at a later date.