Patricia Mae "Patty" Eklund (Wood)

Patricia “Patty” Eklund, 83, of Lee’s Summit, MO passed away January 2, 2018. Visitation will be from 12-1:00 pm Friday, January 5, 2018, at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Funeral services will follow at 1pm at the chapel. Burial will take place in Mound Grove Cemetery. Patty was born on January 13, 1934, in Independence, MO. to Cecil and Florence (Ballinger) Wood. Patty’s grandfather, Welton Wood, helped build the Walnut Park RLDS Church in Independence on 23rd Street; the Saints had been meeting in a large tent at the Wood’s home across the street. Her grandfather officiated over many services and ordinances. When Patty was in 4th grade, they moved to Oak Grove, where she attended Wide-Awake Country School, later graduating from Oak Grove High School. Employed as a billing clerk at Herald House in Independence, Patty enjoyed working with Ruth Smith. Patty was introduced to Dean by another friend and co-worker, Delite Jobst, at a Zion’s League gathering in the lower level of the RLDS Auditorium in 1953. It wasn’t quite “love at first sight” but almost! In August 1953 Patty and Dean were married in Oak Grove, where Patty had attended as a charter member since the group first organized in 1947. When their first child was on the way, Patty quit working to become a fulltime homemaker. Patty and Dean have two daughters, Hope and Susan, and one son Eric. The Eklund family enjoyed loading into their station wagon every year for two-week vacations. They traveled to every state except Hawaii and Alaska. Patty enjoyed reading, crocheting, and visiting with family and friends. In 2011 Dean and Patty moved from their Independence home of 40 years to an independent living duplex in John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit, MO. At first Patty was not too happy about moving but once she settled into their two-bedroom duplex she was very pleased with her new surroundings. In 2016 she became a resident in Memory Care at the Village. Again, she was not too happy about moving. Then in 2017 she was placed in hospice care. During her last several years she was surrounded by caregivers and other residents in Memory Care that came to know her like family. Survivors include: Ordean “Dean” Eklund; daughter Hope Robinson and her husband Alan; daughter Susan Booth and her husband Charlie; son Eric Eklund and his wife Debbie; sister Carol Darlene Atherton and her husband Jim; 8 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a large extended family and many friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Oak Grove Restoration Branch Building Fund in memory of Patty Eklund, care of Speaks Chapel or mail to Church of Jesus Christ, Oak Grove Restoration Branch, 1203 North Broadway, Oak Grove, MO 64075.