Patrick "Pat" Barrett Obituary

Patrick “Pat” J. Barrett, 81, of West Lafayette, died May 4, 2025. He was born September 10, 1943 in Lafayette, Indiana to Woodrow and Hazel (Hulse) Barrett. Married July 26, 1981 to Sue (Hendryx) Rawles Barrett.

Survived by children: E.B. Rawles (Janelle), Tom Rawles, John Rawles (Monique), Susie Geswein (Brian), grandchildren: Zach Rawles (Lauren), Rachel Pesch (Josh), Nick Rawles (Mallory), Shelby Seiltz (Daniel), Whitney Rawles (Kyle Turner), Zach Geswein, Brianne Steele (Tyler), Paige Bals (Chris), great-grandchildren: Madeline, Elizabeth and Jack Rawles, Reid and Wren Rawles, Noah and Mya Seiltz and Maximus Steele, brother, Larry J (Sally), sister-in-law, Cati as well as many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

His wife, parents, brother, Dick (Richard) and a special nephew Marc Barrett precede Pat in death.

Pat was in the livestock trucking business from 1961 to 1994. During this period, Pat served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant E5, 1965-1967. He was stationed in Ft Carson, Colorado, and spent one summer in West Point, New York. In Pat’s long celebrated livestock business, he bought cattle, sheep and hogs on order from 1961-1995, owned and operated the Boswell Livestock Commission Sale Barn from 1976 to 1994. He fed cattle, sheep and hogs in Indiana and Illinois with cattle pastures in five counties for many years. One year he put up over 15,000 small bales of hay, the most he did in one summer. After selling the sale barn, he worked at Wabash National, building semi-trailers for 11 years. Then after retirement, he worked for Tim Tabert on his farm for four years. Pat recalls that Tim was the best boss anyone could have. When Tim got out of the cattle business, Pat built barbed wire and woven wire fence at several locations in Indiana and Illinois. Pat built a lot of fences for Bill Eberle – also one of the greatest bosses a man could have. Over the years, Pat built fence on two continents – in Africa and North America. Pat had traveled to Zambia, Africa where he visited his missionary cousin Kenny Gene Vance and Ken Enright; part of his work there was building fence.

Additionally, Pat bought cattle for H&H Feedlot (Ron and Adam Hamstra) for several years, and appreciated the wonderful relationship they had.

He was a member of Boswell American Legion Post 476, Fowler United Methodist Church, where he served on many boards, was an usher and even a substitute preacher at times. He was very proud of preaching at the English service in Zambia, Africa while there on a mission trip. Hobbies included building fence, feeding livestock, attending livestock sales, playing cards (euchre, poker and Bridge) and going to grandkids ball games, sporting events and programs. In his younger years, he hunted pheasant and quail and was a trap shooter.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM (EST), Thursday, May 8, 2025. Funeral will be at 11am (EST) Friday, May 9, 2025 all being held at Fowler United Methodist Church with Pastor Mary van Wijk officiating. Interment will follow at Boswell Cemetery with military honors . In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fowler United Methodist Church.

Arrangements entrusted to Gerts, Windler & Keller Funeral Homes ~ Fowler Chapel 506 E. Main St., Fowler, IN 47944. (765) 884-0110 www.kellerfh.com