Patty Yungclas
December 31, 1969 — November 10, 2021
Patricia May (Olsen) Yungclas died peacefully in her sleep on November 10, 2021. Her quiet death was in stark contrast to the vivacious life she led. Patty was a force of nature who rarely sat still and was never afraid to let her voice be heard, whether it was her opinion or a song.
Born on April 26, 1926, in Algona to Ralph and Genevieve (Johnson) Olsen, she grew up on No Rest Farm outside of Ellsworth and was part of that farm’s operation until her death. The stories she told of her childhood were happy and often included admitting that she’d been a bit mischievous but got away with it because she was the apple of her father’s eye. Patty attended Iowa State College where she lived in a fraternity “while the men were off to war”. She met Bruce Yungclas at the National Plowing Match in 1947, which was being held at the Ralph Olsen farm, and he became her husband and partner in life for 52 years. She moved to the Yungclas family farm near Webster City, where she raised her own four children and assisted in the rearing of many nieces and nephews and an occasional foreign exchange student. She was a longtime member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ where she served on numerous committees, was nearly always the last to leave after church and any other church event and lent her beautiful soprano voice to the choir for all her adult life, singing alongside her husband, children, and many other family members. Patty was an active 4-H member, participating the the county 4-H band, and became a 4-H leader of the Fremont Farm Fairies. She acted and volunteered with the Webster City Community Theatre (and provided many years of costume storage, much to the delight of her grandchildren), belonged to PEO Chapter JE, played bridge with the same group of ladies for over 50 years, and served as the President of the Board of Trustees for Des Moines University. As a longtime member of Hamilton County Republican Central Committee, she and Bruce hosted many political candidates over the years and worked tirelessly on various fundraisers. Patty was honored as an Iowa Master Farm Homemaker in 2010. Hamilton County Farm Bureau also benefitted from her time and talents as did Sweet Adelines and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 191. She thought speed limits were simply suggestions, never answered her door without putting on her lipstick first, traveled extensively and had the spoon collection to prove it, and toasted most occasions with Black Velvet. She was an avid fan of Iowa State Athletics and could be found (and heard) in the same seat at every football and men’s basketball game for many decades, with Bruce by her side. Patty, with her brother Neil, ran her father’s estate and farm operation after his death in 1982. She continued her Ellsworth ties by buying and renovating a building downtown, which housed several businesses and apartments, including her own Aunt Blanche’s Attic. She was an active member of Ellsworth’s Community Club and did her best to keep things happening in her hometown until “retiring” in her late 80s.
Patty was a passionate woman who adored her family, the one that she was related to as well as the one she created along the way. Many a wayward relative found their way to Patty’s spare rooms over the years, where they found unconditional love and an occasional kick in the keister when needed.
She was preceded in death by her son Gary, her parents, her husband, her brother, four brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law. She is survived by sons Alan (Karin), Webster City; and Rolf, Sublette, Kansas; daughter Leah (Bob) Maass, Ellsworth; granddaughters Allison Yungclas, Monte Alto, TX; Emily (Chad) Elkin, Story City; Mandy Maass (Jason Strahl), Oak Creek, CO; Jennifer Yungclas, La Jolla, CA; Jenny (Ron) Manning, Webster City; Lara May Yungclas, Ackley; and grandson Robbie Maass, Des Moines. She is also survived by four great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter, two step-granddaughters and their families, five sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Patty’s life will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Webster City. There will be a visitation at Foster Funeral & Cremation Center, Tuesday November 30th from 4-6. For those who can’t attend, please enjoy a cocktail of your choosing at that time and send up a toast to the magnificent Patty May!
Born on April 26, 1926, in Algona to Ralph and Genevieve (Johnson) Olsen, she grew up on No Rest Farm outside of Ellsworth and was part of that farm’s operation until her death. The stories she told of her childhood were happy and often included admitting that she’d been a bit mischievous but got away with it because she was the apple of her father’s eye. Patty attended Iowa State College where she lived in a fraternity “while the men were off to war”. She met Bruce Yungclas at the National Plowing Match in 1947, which was being held at the Ralph Olsen farm, and he became her husband and partner in life for 52 years. She moved to the Yungclas family farm near Webster City, where she raised her own four children and assisted in the rearing of many nieces and nephews and an occasional foreign exchange student. She was a longtime member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ where she served on numerous committees, was nearly always the last to leave after church and any other church event and lent her beautiful soprano voice to the choir for all her adult life, singing alongside her husband, children, and many other family members. Patty was an active 4-H member, participating the the county 4-H band, and became a 4-H leader of the Fremont Farm Fairies. She acted and volunteered with the Webster City Community Theatre (and provided many years of costume storage, much to the delight of her grandchildren), belonged to PEO Chapter JE, played bridge with the same group of ladies for over 50 years, and served as the President of the Board of Trustees for Des Moines University. As a longtime member of Hamilton County Republican Central Committee, she and Bruce hosted many political candidates over the years and worked tirelessly on various fundraisers. Patty was honored as an Iowa Master Farm Homemaker in 2010. Hamilton County Farm Bureau also benefitted from her time and talents as did Sweet Adelines and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 191. She thought speed limits were simply suggestions, never answered her door without putting on her lipstick first, traveled extensively and had the spoon collection to prove it, and toasted most occasions with Black Velvet. She was an avid fan of Iowa State Athletics and could be found (and heard) in the same seat at every football and men’s basketball game for many decades, with Bruce by her side. Patty, with her brother Neil, ran her father’s estate and farm operation after his death in 1982. She continued her Ellsworth ties by buying and renovating a building downtown, which housed several businesses and apartments, including her own Aunt Blanche’s Attic. She was an active member of Ellsworth’s Community Club and did her best to keep things happening in her hometown until “retiring” in her late 80s.
Patty was a passionate woman who adored her family, the one that she was related to as well as the one she created along the way. Many a wayward relative found their way to Patty’s spare rooms over the years, where they found unconditional love and an occasional kick in the keister when needed.
She was preceded in death by her son Gary, her parents, her husband, her brother, four brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law. She is survived by sons Alan (Karin), Webster City; and Rolf, Sublette, Kansas; daughter Leah (Bob) Maass, Ellsworth; granddaughters Allison Yungclas, Monte Alto, TX; Emily (Chad) Elkin, Story City; Mandy Maass (Jason Strahl), Oak Creek, CO; Jennifer Yungclas, La Jolla, CA; Jenny (Ron) Manning, Webster City; Lara May Yungclas, Ackley; and grandson Robbie Maass, Des Moines. She is also survived by four great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter, two step-granddaughters and their families, five sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Patty’s life will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Webster City. There will be a visitation at Foster Funeral & Cremation Center, Tuesday November 30th from 4-6. For those who can’t attend, please enjoy a cocktail of your choosing at that time and send up a toast to the magnificent Patty May!
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