SIOUX CITY -- Dr. Merrill Van Patten, 83, formerly of Sioux City passed away April 1, 2011 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Services will be 2 p.m., Thursday at Brooks South Town Chapel, 7601 Fleur Drive., in Des Moines. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will greet friends from noon until service time on Thursday at Brooks South Town Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Merle Hay Funeral Home in Des Moines.
Dr. Van Patten was born March 20, 1928, in New Virginia. Dr. Van Patten was a doctor of osteopathic medicine, who was larger than life and was loved and cherished by all of his family, friends, and his many patients over the years. He practiced in Sioux City and Mesa, Ariz., before retiring to Council Bluffs.
His nickname was "Dynamite" and he earned that nickname honestly as a young boy. He was an outdoorsman who loved his race horses and started racing in 1960 and had numerous stake horses and had a colt ranked sixth in the world in 1987. He was a dedicated physician for 40 years who was always there for his family, friends, and patients. He treated all those he knew with dignity and respect. Dr. Van Patten never raised his office fees as a doctor in all the years of his practice. He and his wife Betty loved to entertain family and friends. He loved to talk to people and was the most charismatic and charming person and never met a stranger.
He is survived by his sons, Dr. Merrill Jr., Craig, and Kevin; daughter, Debra (Ray) Salazar; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Betty
SIOUX CITY -- Dr. Merrill Van Patten, 83, formerly of Sioux City passed away April 1, 2011 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Services will be 2 p.m., Thursday at Brooks South Town Chapel, 7601 Fleur Drive., in Des Moines. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will greet friends from noon until service time on Thursday at Brooks South Town Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Merle Hay Funeral Home in Des Moines.
Dr. Van Patten was born March 20, 1928, in New Virginia. Dr. Van Patten was a doctor of osteopathic medicine, who was larger than life and was loved and cherished by all of his family, friends, and his many patients over the years. He practiced in Sioux City and Mesa, Ariz., before retiring to Council Bluffs.
His nickname was "Dynamite" and he earned that nickname honestly as a young boy. He was an outdoorsman who loved his race horses and started racing in 1960 and had numerous stake horses and had a colt ranked sixth in the world in 1987. He was a dedicated physician for 40 years who was always there for his family, friends, and patients. He treated all those he knew with dignity and respect. Dr. Van Patten never raised his office fees as a doctor in all the years of his practice. He and his wife Betty loved to entertain family and friends. He loved to talk to people and was the most charismatic and charming person and never met a stranger.
He is survived by his sons, Dr. Merrill Jr., Craig, and Kevin; daughter, Debra (Ray) Salazar; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Betty
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