Patti Whitsel

Patti K. Whitsel, of New London, IA, died Sunday, December 19, 2010 at her home. There will be a gathering hosted by the family to share memories with friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 21st, at the New London Christian Church, 2770 New London Rd. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, December 22nd at 10:30 a.m. at the New London Christian Church with the Reverend Rod Cooper, officiating. Memorials have been established for the AFLAC Children's Cancer Center, the Great River Hospice, and the Preschool Department of the New London Christian Church. Born November 10, 1951 in Mt. Pleasant, IA, she was the daughter of Robert R. and Lucille (Lessenger) McClure. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1970 and Truman State College in 1974. She married Dennis L. Hinkle on August 19, 1972. They later divorced. On December 31, 1996, she married Randall J. Whitsel. Patti worked for many years with handicapped individuals including 17 years as a mental health case worker for Henry County. She was the Executive Housekeeper at the Mt. Pleasant Ramada Inn, earning 3 Gold Key Awards for the hotel, and she also worked with her husband in his AFLAC insurance business. Patti's first love was being a mother, grandmother and homemaker. She enjoyed watching her son play football never missing a game from grade school through college. Her hobbies included reading, golf, the Iowa Hawkeyes, gardening, boating on the Mississippi and traveling. Patti is survived by her husband; her father and mother of Mt. Pleasant; a son, Joshua (Kiley) Hinkle of Cedar Rapids, IA; a daughter, Cally (Jeremiah) Schlee, of Winfield, IA; step children Casey Whitsel, of Leesburg, FL, Christopher Whitsel and partner Eric Espinoza of Moorhead, MN, Phillip (Amanda) Whitsel of Clio, MI, and Rachel Whitsel of Lansing, MI; a brother, James McClure of Mt. Pleasant, IA; a sister, Connie Church of Moravia, NY; and six grandchildren. She is preceded in death by a brother-in-law, William Church.