Patricia Ann Echtermeyer

Patricia (Pat) Ann Echtermeyer was born on October 18th, 1934 in Massena, Iowa to parents Mabel (Cullen) Mills and Earl Mills.  She was the oldest of three children, Martin (Marty) Mills and Martha (Mills) Van Tassel.  She was raised on her father's farm where she learned her strong work-ethic and tremendous compassion for all living beings.
After graduating high school, Pat attended Creighton Memorial St Joseph School of Nursing in Omaha, NE and graduated Class of 1955.  She worked as a nurse in OB / labor and delivery unit which she loved.  Later in her nursing career, she worked the 7 PM - 7 AM overnight shift alongside her full-time parenting/home-making job.
After nursing school, she met a former Navy sailor and college student, Donald Herbert Echtermeyer.  They met at a bar in Omaha and cut a rug on the dance floor the night they met.  About a year later, they married on August 31, 1957 in her hometown.  After starting their marriage in Omaha, they moved to Kansas City for Don's banking career.  They ultimately landed in Denver and lived in Colorado for over 50 years.  They were married for 62 year and had three children:  Theresa Marie Echtermeyer- McGahey, John Gerard Echtermeyer and Melissa Ann (Echtermeyer) Dundas.  
Pat had many gifts, including her undeniable beauty (inside-and-out), and talents;  the greatest of which were friendship, cooking, baking and making her family home a special place.  She also enjoyed sewing, golf and playing cards. She was an avid reader and she loved fashion, thrift shopping and family pets. In addition to being a tremendous home-maker, Pat practiced her Faith and volunteered for through her Catholic Church community including the Denver Archdiocese Hospice, Stevens Ministry and Birthright.  She volunteered at Fort Logan Hospital and found her passion for advocacy in the field of mental health working with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and the Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network where she was a Board member and volunteer for 20 years.
Patricia passed peacefully and into her Lord Father's arms on February 9, 2020 after nearly six weeks of her ultimate health decline which began at the start of this year.  She was surrounded by the love and prayers of her immediate family in her final hours and her dearest family and friends during her final days.  She is survived by her husband Don and children, Theresa, John and Melissa.
She will be deeply missed and always remembered and adored by the many people she impacted through her love and legacy.
 

Recitation of rosary will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday Feb. 24, 2020 at Drinkwine Family Chapel. Memorial Mass  - 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 at St. Mary Catholic Church with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) or to Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network, in Patricia's name and memory.

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