PATRICIA “PAT” KOETTING
1935 ~ 2020
Patricia “Pat” Gail Koetting, age 85, passed on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at her home in Rio Rancho, NM. Her husband of 66 years, Jerome (Jerry Sr.), was by her side.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Lowery and Gladys (Tackwell) Lowery of Paducah, Kentucky. Her education included the Chicago Institute of Art and additional courses at the University of Kentucky in Bowling Green.
Pat met her husband, Jerry in Paducah when she applied for employment with Union Carbide. Instead of a job, she found her husband — a handsome young chemical engineer — dining in the lunchroom. They were married in 1953 and went on to raise five children: Vicki, Patti, Sue, Jerry Jr. and Tom.
Pat and Jerry’s married life began in Paducah, and then relocations for Jerry’s Union Carbide career took them to Colorado, Wyoming, New York and West Virginia.
Pat immensely enjoyed golfing and gardening. She was artistic, which is evident in her craft projects and the creativity in her offspring.
After retirement Pat and Jerry moved to New Mexico where they enjoyed the warm weather and maintaining low handicaps. Pat and Jerry began exploring their genealogy before the introduction of the internet, which prompted them to explore cemeteries and courthouse basements, and meeting new friends and distant relatives.
Pat is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jerome Daniel Koetting, their five children:
Victoria Gates of Maryland;
Patricia (John) Keck of Kansas;
Sue Norman of Wyoming;
Jerome (Rose) Koetting, Jr. of South Carolina;
and Thomas (Sonia) Koetting of Colorado.
Pat’s five grandchildren include Adam, Bailey, Savannah, Helen and Cole; and one great grandchild, Theo.
Her life left her children with a fine example of respect for family, thrift and contentment.
Born in Detroit, Pat’s family soon moved to Chicago for father Tom’s career as a machinist in the aviation industry.
Chicago, 1939 with father Tom and mother Gladys.
Age 8, with one of the Lowery’s many terriers.
Age 11, Evansville Indiana. When World War II broke out, father Tom worried Chicago would be a victim of Axis bombing and moved the family to the relatively safer city of Evansville. There, he and Gladys both worked in the production the P-47 “Thunderbolt” fighter aircraft.
Evansville Indiana, 1951
Pat graduated from High School at age 16, then studied at the Chicago Institute of Art, and the University of Kentucky at Bowling Green.
18th Birthday
Cave In Rock Ferry — Kentucky, 1953
Bridal portrait, 1953
Wedding Day, 1953. A morning nuptial Mass followed by a breakfast at the Hotel Irvin Cobb. Pat’s family didn’t have roots in Paducah so a smaller wedding was appropriate, and the lack of connection to the town allowed her to freely join on the cross-country life adventure that would await.
And then there were three. With Jerry and first daughter Vicki in 1954
With daughters Patti and Vicki, 1957
With Vicki at Kentucky Lake, 1957
Daughter Sue’s baptism, 1958
Colorado fun near Telluride, 1959. The family moves to the remote (and now defunct) Union Carbide company town of Uravan on the San Miguel River. Quite a change for someone who spent much of her youth in Chicago. After a year (and the birth of another child), Jerry accepted a new post outside of Casper, Wyoming.
1960, Casper Wyoming with daughter Sue (who would return to Wyoming 20 years later and become a life-long resident).
With son, Jerry Jr. in Warwick NY, 1961. Another company move, this time to the Sterling Forrest nuclear research lab near Tuxedo.
1962 — Lobster and Cokes on the way to Bar Harbor, Maine — Pat, Vicki, Jerry, Patti, and Sue
TWA Flight Center, Idlewild (JFK) Airport, 1963. The Koetting / TWA connection endured though generations. Several family members worked for the airline in accounting, mechanical support and flight attendance.
1964 — Son Tom arrives, signaling the end of baby-making. Now on the task of raising five children in the 1960’s
Admiring garden work with Brownie (and daughter) Patti, Williamsville NY, 1967.
Christmas 1967 with son, Tom who recalls “Like many kids around 5 or 6, I had a temporary fascination with mortality and the concept of death. I drove Mom crazy with constant quizzing about ‘how long will Grandma live?’ or ‘how long will the dog live?’ and then I asked her ‘will YOU be alive in the year 2000?!’ — then a far-off, future prospect. She assured me that yes, she would indeed be around. Decades later on January 1, 2000, I called to wish her a Happy New Years and asked if she remembered that long-ago conversation. Indeed, she did and I jokingly congratulated her … “you made it!” After a pause, with her characteristic sly tone she pushed back “Congratulations, you did too.’” No doubt a nod to my misspent teen years.
Summer 1968 — Saying goodbye to the Williamsville NY house for yet another Union Carbide move. In the space of time most families would own two cars, the Koetting’s had been in five houses. Husband Jerry joked, “Next time, I’m going to put my money into something more permanent — like a car!”
Summer 1968 — 24 North Hills Drive, Parkersburg West Virginia. A blank canvas for decorating, landscaping, and home-making. Pat & Jerry’s first house they remained in for more than 5 years. This assignment would last through Jerry’s career allowing him to retire without another move.
Summer 1969 — Gateway Arch, St Louis.
A rare road trip without the kids, 1969
Pitching out of a trap, 1973. Golf was Pat & Jerry’s outdoor obsession for decades. Among her golfing highlights was a hole-in-one in 1992 while shooting at her resident golf course (Rio Rancho Golf & Country Club).
Golfing trip to Spain, 1977
1978 — A comical powerless, candle-lit Christmas at the Parkersburg home with son Jerry Jr. Note the number of stockings hung. Two children have grown up and moved on.
There were five weddings for five kids. A moment from Sue & John Norman’s Parkersburg wedding in 1980.
Sue’s wedding day, Parkersburg 1980
A lifelong creative, Pat dabbled with many mediums. She enjoyed water color and oil painting, Indonesian Batik, embroidery, and social/club poster and program design. As a home maker, she was a champion of repair versus replace. Household items would last for decades with a new decorative cover, cushion, or creative paint application. At the time of her death, was crafting stylish facemasks in response to the pandemic.
1990 — the first year of thirty sun-filled South Western retirement years in the Rio Rancho New Mexico home.
Rio Rancho backyard, 1991. The annual Albuquerque Ballon Fiesta was a repeating rallying moment for a family now spread across the country.
After the move to the Southwest, Pat’s art took a dramatic shift.
With grand daughter Savannah at the Albuqueque Ballon Fiesta, 1994
With grand daughter Helen, 1995
Working on genealogy research at home, 2000. Detective work on her family roots lead to connections with President Obama, actor Brad Pitt, and Sgt. John Ordway of the Lewis & Clark expedition.
2001 with grand daughter, Bailey.
“It is without a doubt that I got my stubbornness from you! I still remember when I saw a picture of you as a young lady and I swore we were twins so thanks for also sharing your beauty and grace! Thanks for being a part of so many important times in my life. I love you Nanny and I’m sure going to miss you.” — grand daughter, Bailey Snyder
2003 — sharing a bite of 50th Anniversary wedding cake.
2003 — Teaching grand daughter Helen the fine points of needlework.
“Rest In Peace Nanny. I’ll always be thankful for how much you encouraged my artistic skill and education. You will be missed.” — Helen Koetting
2006 — in the walled city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. Exploring after a comical moment when the vehicle GPS unit directed them through dining tables being set up for dinner in the middle of the road. Look out, the Americans are here!
Family Reunion, Kansas City 2010
2018 — a Rio Rancho winter morning.
Thanksgiving 2019, with son Jerry Jr, husband Jerry, and daughter-in-law Rose.
“Godspeed, Aunt Pat! I’ll forever remember your kindness, loveliness and always perfect hair. During a conversation nearly 30 years ago when I was visiting you and Uncle Jerome in Rio Rancho, you asked what I loved most about New Mexico and I told you it was the abundance of turquoise. A few weeks later, I was thrilled to receive a surprise gift in the mail: a beautiful turquoise necklace and earrings. I still have the earrings and I’m wearing them today as I remember you fondly!”
“Aunt Pat was one of a kind. I loved her laugh and yes her hair was always perfect.”
“She was full of wisdom and grace and was so loved by everyone. But I know you already know that after 65 years of marriage. She’s watching over all of you and is very proud of the family you loved and raised!”