Patricia Dewire Obituary

>PATRICIA "PAT" ANN DEWIRE
March 17, 1932
May 14, 2021
Patricia Ann Dewire, 89, passed away at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, California following a stroke. Pat was born and raised in Spearville, KS, the 6th of 9 children to George and Marie Stegman. She grew up on their farm during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, which she referred to often. Pat was happiest with a book in her hand - her love of learning lasted a lifetime. High school was wonderful for Pat and she enjoyed sharing stories from those days and her time as head majorette for Spearville High School (she also enjoyed showing off her twirling moves, even at 89!). She would always chuckle that her younger sister Shirley would watch her get ready for events and wonder if her high schools years would be half as fun.
Pat moved with the family to Colorado Springs in 1950, working in Civilian Personnel at Fort Carson and enjoyed her new life in the "big city" population of 45,000. It was at Fort Carson she met her husband Tom Dewire. They were wed June 22, 1957 at Paulene Chapel and spent over 55 years in the Springs raising their family. During this time, she worked at the US Olympic Training Center for Swimming and later for Fencing. She was one of the first volunteers at The Catholic Center at the Citadel Mall beginning in 2001, befriending many of the Franciscan Friars and other volunteers for this wonderful Ministry. She loved meeting people from all over the world. It was not uncommon to find her in her armchair, referencing her well-worn atlas to see the contours of the places she visited or learned about. She was fortunate to make many visits to Europe, including a memorable trip to Rome where she and Tom were Gift Bearers for high Mass at the Vatican.
In their final years Pat and Tom joined their daughter and son-in-law Steve in Las Vegas and then in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego. Her beloved granddaughter, Sarah, was a mere 7 minutes away and regularly delivered new books for her "Gran". Those visits became a little noisier (and more joyful) when Pat's great-granddaughter Eleanore, was born. Pat enjoyed spending time with her small but tight-knit family right up through Mother's Day! We will miss her dearly!
Survivors include her daughter Shannon VanSickler (Steve); granddaughter Sarah McAlear Cook (Adam) and great-granddaughter Eleanore Cook, all of San Diego; and sister Shirley Moore of Westerville, OH. She is preceded in death by her sons Kevin (1964), Tom Jr. (1995), husband Tom Sr. (2020); siblings Lalia Stout, Gene Stegman, Marjorie Wallace, Gerald "Gerry" Stegman, Michelle "Mick" Bailey, Marvin Stegman and LaVerne (Butch) Stegman.
Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, will be held at a later date.