Patsy M. Lathrum

Patsy Merle (Noel) Lathrum, daughter of Ralph Raymond Noel and Louise Juanita McCartt, was born on August 1, 1931, in Trenton, Missouri, and passed away on March 11, 2026, in Norwalk, Iowa, at the age of 94.

Pat graduated from Seymour High School in 1948 as a member of the 1947 state champion basketball team. She continued playing basketball while attending the American Institute of Commerce in Davenport and later worked for International Harvester in East Moline. Her lifelong love of the game remained strong as she spent decades cheering for her children and grandchildren at their games.

On July 14, 1951, she married Johnnie LaVerne Lathrum in Ozark, Alabama, while he was serving in the military. Together they raised four children: Johnnie Stephen, Terri, Marcia, and Michael. The couple made their home near St. Charles, where Pat served as secretary at St. Charles Elementary School and was an active member of St. Charles Parish. She devoted many hours to the Pumper Truck Committee, cooking and serving meals on countless weekends to help fund a new fire truck. Her kitchen was legendary for its beef and noodles, cinnamon rolls, homemade bread, caramels, pecan pie, red velvet cake, mushrooms, and cheeseburgers—dishes she was famously reluctant to share the exact recipes for.

Pat and Johnnie enjoyed nearly 60 years of farm life in Hanley and spent more than 40 years vacationing with extended family and friends in the Ozarks, primarily at Table Rock Lake. Though she disliked water, she would ride in the boat for breakfast outings or sit on the dock wearing a tightly secured life jacket, proudly waving to the skiers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Johnnie, daughter Terri, son Michael, sister Martha Lambert, and brothers Robert Donelson, Ralph Noel, and Clifford Collins. Patsy is survived by her children Steve Lathrum (Sandi) and Marcia Knutson (Bob) of St. Charles; grandchildren Kari Dawson (Jeff), Rich Lathrum (Caity), Ben Knutson (Jessica), Kelsey Ritchey (Matt), Katelyn Van Dyke (Caleb), Ashley Lathrum, Jennifer Walters (Casey), and Cassi Walker (Nate); 17 great-grandchildren; brother Jack Foreman (Carolyn); and many other relatives and friends.