Patricia “Pat” Hinners, 85, of Carroll, formerly of Arcadia, died early Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 4, 2024 at St. John Catholic Church in Arcadia. The Celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Music will be by Sharon Bierl and the St. John Choir. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Peg Scheidt. Gift Bearers will be Pat’s granddaughters and great-granddaughters: Kelly Fuzi, Kristen Schweers, Erin Hinners, Breanna Schon, Alizaveda Bierl, Jillian Hinners, Piper Brown, and Hannah Fuzi. Eucharistic Minister will be Pat Vogl. Casket Bearers will be Pat’s grandsons: Nate Hinners, Adam Hinners, Nick Schweers, Andrew Hinners, Charles Schon, Calton Bierl and Chris Brown. Honorary Casket Bearers include Connor Fuzi, Miles Hinners, Mac Hinners, and Alec Strzemp. The Arcadia American Legion Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the Funeral Mass. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Arcadia.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. There will be no visitation prior to the Mass on Thursday at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Pat’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born in Manning, Iowa, on January 20, 1939, to Martha (Williams) and Walter Riesberg, the family lived in Manning for 3 years before moving to a farm near Templeton, Iowa. Pat attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton for 6 years and the family moved to Carroll, Iowa. She finished grade school at St. Joseph’s School. Pat proceeded to St. Angela’s Academy for two years and when it became Kuemper Catholic High School, she transferred there until her graduation in 1957.
On February 15th, 1958, Pat married Wilbur (Willie) Hinners at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Carroll, with her uncle Father Leo Riesberg presiding. Pat traveled with her husband after he was drafted into the army in June of 1958. Among the most interesting places was their move to Germany in 1959.
She was so proud to have birthed five wonderful children, with her firstborn being a dual citizen, son James, in March of 1960 in Heidelberg, Germany. Her daughter, Marcia, soon followed in May of 1961, and son Jeffrey was born in February, 1963. Monica rounded out the numbers in May of 1966. Pat was so proud of having 4 children in 6 years, raising them with a soft heart and forgiving nature, and often spoke about that ‘accomplishment’. Ten years later, a different plan presented itself, with daughter Molly arriving in October of 1975. Pat’s mothering to all who knew her was her lasting superpower.
Pat and Willie lived in Arcadia for over 45 years and were a big part of the community during that tenure. Pat provided childcare for numerous families, neighbors, and fellow Arcadians. She worked at the Brown Derby and Tony’s during her youth and at Porky’s Tavern for years. In 1980, Pat and Willie took over as co-managers of the Arcadia American Legion Ballroom and they catered hundreds of weddings, anniversaries, parties, and Hawkeye banquets there in the course of over 20 years. They managed everything from ballroom dance lessons, Polka festivals, orchestra concerts, and Sunday evening Old Time dances, loving and dedicating their lives to the Legion.
Pat also spent much time volunteering as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, Christian Mothers, and Post 694 of the American Legion Auxiliary, serving numerous positions within those organizations. She and Willie spent much time engaged in their passion of Ballroom Dancing and Polka Club of Iowa engagements, which allowed them to travel around the Midwest, which they thoroughly enjoyed.
Pat’s favorite activity, though, was being a fantastic grandma, which included travel to Arizona and Colorado every winter. Gramma Pat did whatever her grandchildren wanted, from rocking them for hours to the tune of “You are My Sunshine”, to singing and playing games like “This Little Piggie” and Dominos, from watching their numerous sporting and extracurricular events, to playing Red Light, Green Light and Hide N’ Seek all the live long days. Pat adored her grandchildren and traveled with them and to see them whenever she could.
Pat is survived by her five children: Jim (Marci) Hinners, Marcia (Joe) Schweers, Jeff (Maura) Hinners, Monica (Joey) Schon, and Molly (Corey) Hinners Bierl; Eleven grandchildren: Nate (Jess) Hinners, Adam (Jillian) Hinners, Kelly Fuzi, Kristen (Chris) Schweers, Nick Schweers, Erin (Alec) Hinners, Andrew Hinners, Breanna Schon, Charles Schon, Calton Bierl, and Alizaveda Bierl; Five great-grandchildren: Hannah Fuzi, Connor Fuzi, Miles Hinners, Mac Hinners, and Piper Brown; Sisters Donna (Joe) Grote and Darlene Hinners and Brothers Jerry (Verna), Geno (Nancy), and Randy (Jerri) Riesberg; In-Laws: Marilyn Jeschke, Louie and Norma Hinners, and Ione Hinners; numerous nieces, nephews, and relatives.
Pat is preceded in death by her parents Walter and Martha Riesberg, in-laws Alfred and Hildegard Hinners; sister, Joni Halbur; brothers-in-law, Alfred, Jr., Robert, and Eugene Hinners, Berdell Jeschke, and Larry Halbur.