Patrick Heller, 82, of Steamboat Rock, passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at Grundy County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday, June 17, 2024 at the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church. Following the service Pat will be laid to rest at the Steamboat Rock Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until service time on Monday at the church. Woodley Funeral Home of Iowa Falls is caring for Pat and his family.
Patrick Alan Heller was born on July 3, 1941, the son of Clarence Edward and Grace Belle (Jenson) Heller. Patrick graduated from East High School in Des Moines, class of 1959.
Following graduation, Patrick honorably served with the United States Navy from 1959-1962. He was a member of the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church. Pat worked in the appliance and vacuum sales industry for 35 years.
On June 23, 1967 Patrick was united in marriage to Janet Luiken in Aledo, Illinois. They had three children, Debra Lynn, Beth Suzanne and Patrick (PJ) Alan Jr. Janet passed away in 2006.
On July 11, 2020 Patrick married Susan Adams at their home in Steamboat Rock, Iowa.
Pat was a professional guitar player who enjoyed acoustic, Spanish and electric guitar. He founded and joined many bands over the years which led to some fun and exciting times such as meeting and performing with several music legends such as: Chet Adkins, Merle Travis, Dolly Parton, Jody Miller, Roy Clark, Faron Young, Hank Thompson, Keith Whitley, Johnny Paycheck and Kathy Mattea. He sold a guitar and jammed for a couple of hours with Keith Richards and was good friends with Buddy Emmons from Nashville.
Patrick Heller is survived by his wife, Susan Heller of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, children, Debra Nutton of Hampton, New Hampshire, Beth (Royce) Sicard of Ackley, Iowa; stepsons, Jared (Marisella) Adams of California and Jeremy (Kisa) Adams of Okinawa, Japan; grandchildren: Brandon, Amanda, Grant, Taylor and Riley Sicard; step grandchildren: Schaad Adams, Sophia and Sara Adams, Andy and Ivonne Gutierez and Emma Adams; brothers, Tom (Darlene) Heller, Dan (Sandy) Heller and nine other siblings. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet (Luiken) Heller and son, Patrick (PJ) Alan Heller Jr. in 2019.
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