Patricia Cleland, 89, of Oskaloosa, passed away at Mahaska Health Hospital on May 17, 2026.
Patricia Ann Cleland, daughter of Ernest and Hazel (Simpkins) Powers, was born June 11, 1936, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. After graduating from Oskaloosa High School in 1954, she began working for the Northwestern Bell Phone Company. A mutual friend introduced Patty to William Cleland, and they were married on June 21, 1959, at the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa. They made their home in Oskaloosa, and after her daughters, Jennifer and Julie, were born, she ran a daycare in her home and served as the bookkeeper for Bill’s Appliance Repair.
Patty was a member of the First Christian Church, active in the D.W.F. Group, Esther Circle, T.T.T. Society, and King’s Daughters. She was also a member of the Canasta Club and enjoyed playing other card games, BINGO, and shopping. She loved helping Bill manage the Coca-Cola Jets Softball Team. Her all-time favorite pastime was watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.
Patty’s family includes her daughters: Jennifer (Benjamin) Lathrop of Oskaloosa; and Julie (Charlie) Herbst of Gurnee, IL; her grandchildren: Tiffany (Andrew) Ketcham of Newton; Tanner (Nicole) McClenahan of Washington; Andrew (Bailey) Herbst of Cypress, TX; Morgan Herbst of Minneapolis; and Paige Herbst of Gurnee, IL; her five great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, Dick Stephen of Iowa Falls.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Bill, of 55 years, Patty was preceded in death by her brothers and their wives, Carroll (Lindy) Powers and Kenneth (Eloise) Powers; her sisters and their husbands, Margaret (Keith) Stout, Arlene (Bob) Emmons, Donna (Walter) Cubit, Marilyn (Keith) Chambers, and Evelyn Stephen.
Funeral services for Patty will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m., at First Christian Church in Oskaloosa with Rev. Mike Omundson officiating. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. in the church lounge. Burial will be held at Forest Cemetery after the funeral service. The visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 20, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at Langkamp Funeral Chapel, with the family present to greet relatives and friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Patty’s daughter, Jennifer Lathrop, in Patty’s name, to be designated at a later date.
