Patricia E. Romans

Patricia E. Romans, 81, of Mason City, Iowa, died Thursday, June 9, 2016 at her home. A celebration of life service will be held Monday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave. with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. Per the family’s request, her body will be cremated. The family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, June 26 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Mason City. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church or the American Diabetes Association.

Patricia was born on January 26, 1935 in Des Moines, Iowa to Elsie (Jensen) Clayburg and Marion Clayburg. Patricia married Stanley Charles Romans, Jr. in August 1958; Stan passed away in 2002. Known as Patty by many of her friends, she was a long-time resident of Mason City. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1952, and kept in touch with many of her classmates up to the time of her death.A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in elementary education, she taught at Mason City’s Roosevelt Elementary School.After her teaching career, she owned and operated the College Bookstore, worked as the volunteer coordinator at North Iowa Medical Center, and later managed the Willows assisted-living facility in Mason City.

Patricia was very active in the Trinity Lutheran Church, and enjoyed playing in their bell choir. She also enjoyed volunteering at Music Man Square. She was committed to service and believed in giving back her time and talents to the community. She was active in Pilot Club, P.E.O., and local and state politics. She assumed leadership roles in many of the service organizations she was involved in, including serving as chair of the Cerro Gordo County Republicans. She was a strong role model and a source of support for aspiring young women throughout much of her adult life. Her legacy will live on in the countless lives she touched.
As her brother said after her death, Patricia’s family was everything to her. She closely followed the lives and careers of her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren, never missing a birthday, graduation, or special occasion.

Patricia was a very busy woman, but in her spare time she loved working crossword puzzles, sewing and baking. She was famous for her delicious homemade caramels and truffles, which she always shared with family and friends during the holidays.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.

She is survived by her daughter Beth Bower and her husband Darin in Lees Summit, Missouri; her son John Romans and his wife Connie, in Stillwater, Oklahoma; her daughter Cathy Barnes and her husband Todd in Yorktown, Virginia; her brother Bill Clayburg in Mesa, Arizona; and her five grandchildren – Andrew and Sarah Romans, Todd and Taylor Barnes, and Alexandra Bower. She will also be missed by many dear friends.