Patricia Herrod Gregorius

Patricia Herrod Gregorius died on March 12, 2008 at Golden Living Nursing Home in Columbus at the age of 87 years. Born January 20, 1921 in Columbus, Nebraska Pat attended St. Bonaventure Elementary and High School. She was working at the Daily Telegram when she met James F. Gregorius whom she married in 1940. After Jim came back from service with the U.S. Army during World War II, the couple started a family that eventually included Patricia (Peg) and husband Terry Gaver of Columbus; Jane Gregorius of Santa Cruz, California; Mary and husband John Neater of Cincinnati, Ohio; Kathy and husband Tom Lilly of Oakpoint, Texas; and Michele Beard of Boulder Creek, California. The two loved golfing at the old Wayside Country Club and the Elks Country Club, where Jim served as treasurer for several years. They both remembered good friend Frank Knox and his Husker House where Pat and Jim spent many happy hours. And their daughters loved to hear their stories of being young during Prohibition and participating in dawn dances at the River View Inn.

Pat worked for over 20 years as a receptionist at the admissions department at St. Marys Hospital and then Behlen Community Hospital, was a member of the Eagles, and volunteered at the rectory of Saint Bonaventure Church and for the Grey Ladies at both hospitals.

Pat had a special love affair with Tooleys Drug store and its Lunch Counter (Her first trip there was as a child at 12 years old with her mother) and the crowd of friends who worked and ate there. If she missed a day at lunch, one of the friends called her house to see if she was all right. She was well known at work and the community for her collection of silver bracelets and walking many miles in a day years before extensive exercise became popular. It was reported that she bicycled over 75,000 miles on her Schwinn Aerodyne Stationary Bicycle. She loved the Columbus library, read as many as four books a week, and encouraged her daughters to become avid readers themselves. She appreciated the people at Schwesers Department Store and became an avid shopper there. She was the mother of several successive daschounds, most of whom were named Schnapps. Pat was very grateful to the staff at Golden Living. In her last conversations she said, These people are all so good to me. Her good friend and helper Cheryl Beasley was especially valued.

Her sister, Nancy Quintana of Santa Fe, New Mexico and nephew Christopher Quintana of Riverside, California survive her, as well as her five daughters. Her grandchildren include Pegs children Kim, Eric, and Dain Neater; Marys children Zach Neater and Sunny Neater Dubow; Kathys children Jamie OFlaherty, Marshall, Rachel, Nikki Pat, and Bridgette Lilly; and Micheles children, Jessica, Koren and Jonathan Beard. She had six great grandchildren: Alivia Neater; Gavin James Neater; Moira, Shannon, Colleen, and Hugh James OFlaherty. Pat was preceded in death by her husband James F. Gregorius in 1980, and her parents Lawrence and Effie Drawbaugh Herrod.

Visitation will be held from 3 6 p.m. Friday, March 14, followed immediately by a 6:00 p.m. Vigil/Rosary at McKown Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 15 at St. Bonaventure Church with Reverend David Fulton officiating. Burial is in the St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Guests are invited to a reception after the graveside service at the parish center adjacent to the church.

Memorials may be directed to Scotus Central Catholic High School.