Patricia Gale Arthaud, 88, of Hazleton, Iowa, died Monday, November 24, 2025, at Oelwein Health Care Center in Oelwein, Iowa.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 A.M. Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, Iowa with Reverend Ray Attwood officiating.
Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 3, 2025, and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Thursday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein, Iowa.
CDA Rosary: 3:30 P.M. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Parish Scripture Service: 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Interment: St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.
Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein, Iowa, is assisting the family.
She was born October 28, 1937, in rural Hazleton, the daughter of Frank Wesley and Velda Marie (Bartles) Dibble. She married Robert Joseph Arthaud on June 23, 1956, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein.
Pat attended Charity Flat School near her birthplace for 1st through 3rd grade, then attended Hazleton for 4th through 12th grade, graduating in 1955. She attended Upper Iowa and received a two-year teaching certificate in 1957. She taught fourth grade at Strawberry Point for one year, was a substitute teacher from 1958 to 1966, taught 4th grade at Harlan School in Oelwein for 4 years before transferring to Wings Park when it was built in 1971.
Attending summer school or night and Saturday classes, Pat finished her B.S. degree in 1970, graduating cum laude from Upper Iowa with a double major in elementary education and history. She took graduate classes at Drake, UNI, Viterbo, Marycrest, and Chapman University. Pat retired in 2003 after dedicating 37 years of her life to teaching.
As an educator, Pat was an active member of the Oelwein Community Education Association, serving as president, as well as all other offices and committee chairs; Iowa State Education Association, National Education Association, Northeast Iowa Language Arts Council building rep; and Northeast Iowa Reading Council building rep and membership chair. During her tenure at Oelwein Community Schools, she served as an NCA co-chair, Modern Red Schoolhouse leadership team, Styles core team member, Phase 3 rep, math and language curriculum chair, and served on the technology, professional development task force, social, and advisory committees.
Special recognition for her professional service came in the form of being named Rotary teacher of the month. She was also recommended by former students for inclusion in Who’s Who in American Educators in 1990, 1994, and 2003.
Parallel to her dedication to education was Pat’s dedication to working with extension and the 4-H program. She served Buchanan County on the Home Ec Committee for one year, was a county clothing project leader for three years, a local club leader for 15 years, co-chaired the state community club task force for two years revising record books, served as a record book judge and consultant for 30 plus years, as well as being a County and State Fair judge of projects. For her active volunteer work with the 4-H programs, Pat received Buchanan County’s Honorary Member Award, the I Dare You Award, the Iowa Honorary Member Award, and the Iowa Hall of Fame Award.
Pat served her community of Hazleton as City Treasurer for 21 years from 1989 to 2010. Also, she served by being a Cancer Drive worker for two years, the United Way co-chair for 11 years, and served the Alumni Association since 1992, the School Museum since 1992, the Housing Corporation since 1995, the Hazleton Commercial Club serving as VP & Pres, Hazleton SHARE from 1996-2000, and was active for 8 years with the American Field Service at OCS. Pat was active with the Horizons program in Hazleton helping to secure $10,000 for the city to help reduce poverty. Pat served as chair of the Hazleton/Fontana Cemetery Board. She was a former member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Before the parish closed in 2005, Pat was active at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hazleton, having served 12 years on the parish council, 8 years as the deanery council rep, as a study club member, liturgy committee member, lector, and communion minister. She was a current member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, a former lector, communion minister, Rosary Society member and former president, and a 50 yr. Catholic Daughter member. Her latest endeavor with the church was serving on the Convent renovation committee, changing it into a Parish Center.
Pat enjoyed meetings of the Oelwein Area Retired School Personnel and the Tuesday Tourist club, sharing the literary reviews of books read. As a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, she worked as a volunteer in the hospital gift shop. She was also an inactive member of the Friends of the Library group in Oelwein. Her weekly quilting gathering with friends kept her fingers moving. She took in as many sporting events as time would allow. Enjoying the grandchildren was her delight, as well as spoiling them too. Giving time to family and friends encompassed Pat’s world.
Survivors include: two daughters: Dianne (Mike) Loughren of Hazleton, Iowa and Donna (Bill) Worst, Hudsonville, MI; one son-in-law: Dave Smock, Jesup; four grandchildren: Bradly (Tasha) Loughren, Madeline Worst, and Ian Worst, Alexandra Arthaud; seven great-grandchildren: twins Lexandra & Brennon Fleming, Layla Arthaud, Carston Hillman, Kenndon Hillman, Sawyer Loughren and Palmer Loughren; two nieces and three nephews; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, who passed away in 1990, daughter Denise, who passed away in 2006, son Douglas, who passed away in 2021, parents, Frank and Velda Dibble, her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Floyd Graesch, Sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marion and Dick Rau, grandparents, and mother and father-in-law: Cy and Mabel Arthaud, and a special aunt and uncle, Beryl and Eldon Wardell.
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