BOONE, Iowa—Patrick Fitzgerald of Boone, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 25, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family.
Patrick Charles Fitzgerald was born on August 13, 1950 at the Boone County Hospital to Charles E. Fitzgerald and Ila Burgoon Fitzgerald. Pat was raised on the family farm Southwest of Stanhope. He attended South Hamilton High School and graduated in 1968. Pat was a member of the South Hamilton FFA Chapter and earned his Iowa Farmer Degree in 1968. Pat was an expert in swine judging and won the National Barrow Show Swine Judging Contest in 1967. After high school, Pat started farming with his father Charles raising crops, cattle and purebred Hampshire and Spotted swine. Additionally, he farmed for Dean Pevestorf and drove a school bus at South Hamilton for a few years.
On March 7, 1981 Pat was united in marriage to the love of his life, Brenda Finnigin in Beattie, Kansas. Pat and Brenda farmed in rural Boone County and started their family. He farmed until 1992. Pat was employed by Fareway Stores starting in March 1984 as a truck driver. Pat logged over 1 million miles for Fareway without an accident when he retired in 2009.
Pat was always a farmer at heart. He collected and built farm toys. Pat farmed with and collected Oliver Farm Machinery. He was a member of the Iowa Cornbelt Oliver Collectors and Hart Parr Oliver Collectors. He enjoyed raising show pigs and loved watching his children and grandchildren show pigs. Pat attended every Iowa State Fair from 1951 – 2023. Pat was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Boone and the Knights of Columbus.
Pat was preceded in death by his parents Charles in 1982 and Ila in 1997, in-laws Mike and Florence Finnigin, brother-in-law Loren Tungesvik and nephew Jerad Tungesvik.
Pat is survived by his wife Brenda, children: Angie Fitzgerald of Omaha, NE; Catie (Craig) Kulawik of Omaha, NE; Jim (Ashley) Fitzgerald of Boone, IA; Charlie (Abbey) Fitzgerald of Council Bluffs, IA and Theresa (Collin) Cory of Creston, IA; grandchildren: Matthew, Andrew, and Claire Fitzgerald; Caiden and Finley Kulawik; and Gracie, Annie, and Lainey Fitzgerald; one sister Mary Jo Tungesvik; niece Kia (Jeff) Woodard; and cousins: Mike (Marge) Fitzgerald, Geralyn (Jim) McVeigh, and Maureen Hollingsworth.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 29 from 5 until 7 P.M. at the Church of the Sacred Heart with a Rosary beginning at 4:30 P.M.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Boone with Rev. Tim Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Following services a lunch will be served at Fitzgerald Hall at the Church of the Sacred Heart.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family to be used to carry on Pat’s legacy.
