Patricia Ann Breitenstein

Patricia Ann “Pat” Breitenstein of Davenport died Friday, December 6, 2024 at Ridgecrest Village of Davenport, surrounded by her cherished daughters.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 9 until 10 a.m. followed by a memorial mass at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 417 N. Main Street, Davenport, where Pat was a long-time member. Rev. Rudy Juarez will be the celebrant. The Mass will be livestreamed by clicking the following link: St. Anthony's LIVESTREAM  Burial will take place at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. 

Pat was born on December 27, 1932, in Dubuque, Iowa, the youngest child of Edna Mary (Hagerty) and Richard J. Alderson, Sr.

Pat married Robert Baker September 5, 1953. Out of this union, Pat was gifted with the loves and joys of her life, the “4 J’s”, her daughters, Jill, Jayne, Jody, and Julie. Pat always shared that her daughters were her greatest gifts in her life. 

Pat later married George Breitenstein on January 8, 1971. He preceded her in death on October 11, 2012. 

Pat achieved her childhood dream in 1953, graduating from St. Ambrose College, Division of Nursing. She worked many years at both Mercy and St. Luke’s Hospitals. She loved all her nursing positions.

Upon her marriage to Mr. Breitenstein, they were transferred to Washington, D.C. George was to serve on President Nixon’s Wage Stabilization Board. Pat initiated one of the first temporary nursing services in the country while in D.C.

In 1975, Pat and family moved to McCook Lake, South Dakota, due to George’s work and in 1979, Pat entered Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work, another life-long dream. She then attended the University of South Dakota and earned a master’s degree in social work. Upon graduation, Pat enjoyed 20 years as a Social Work Therapist at Catholic Charities in Sioux City, Iowa. She considered the staff at Catholic Charities her second family.

Pat always had a great zest for life, a very special love for people. She believed working with others and helping others achieve their potential was a privilege and a personal reward, giving a meaning to life. 

Her greatest happiness in life was spending time with her beloved daughters, her six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, her beloved poodles especially Miss Lilli, and her current dog, a Havanese named Teddy B, helping others to see their strengths and growing beautiful flower gardens. She was a proud friend of Bill W. for over 48 years. Pat had a knack for fashion, shining bright with sparkles and glam. She passed her sparkle to her daughters, the Fabulous Baker girls!

Surviving are her daughters: Jill Slyter and her husband, Glenn Szydlowski, Jayne Baker and her fiancé, John McGrath, Jody and her husband, James Laughery, and Julie and her husband David Schneck; her grandchildren: Stephanie (Tom) Gilroy, Jodi Slyter, Sean (Abbie) Radech, Ashley (Andy Hain) Bjornsen, Michael (Crystal) Schneck, and Christopher (Erin) Schneck; great-grandchildren, Harrison Radech, William Bjornsen, Berkley Hain, Landon Schneck, Zoey Schneck, Savannah Schneck, Meredith Schneck, and Dylan Schneck as well as her canine companion, Teddy B. 

In addition to her husband, George, Pat was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Alice Guns, brother, Richard Alderson, Jr., and her very beloved poodle Miss Lilli.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Croix Hospice or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

A special thank you to Oakwood Place at Ridgecrest Village and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care of our mother.

 (Pat wrote this obituary during her training as a hospice volunteer.)