Pat Mailander

Commander Patricia Mary Mailander was born and raised in Wiota, IA the daughter of Edward and Pearl (Rourick) Mailander.   She is the oldest of seven children born to this union, arriving on January 19, 1946.   Pat passed away at Pleasant Acres/Wesley Heritage House in Atlantic on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at the age of 77.

Pat attended Wiota Elementary and Middle School, transferring to Anita High School in the Fall of 1963.   She graduated in 1964 and was named a National Merit Scholar.   She enrolled at Creighton University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1968.  

***The following in an excerpt from her Naval retirement program…

Pat began her military career while in the Bachelor of Nursing Program at Creighton University as a Nurse Corps Candidate.   Commander Mailander was commissioned in November of 1967 while still a student, and upon graduation from Creighton, was assigned to Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, RI, graduation at the rank of Ensign.   From Newport it was on to Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, CA for a three-year tour.   While at Camp Pendleton EMS Mailander was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade).

The next tour of duty for LTJG Mailander was Naval Hospital, Oakland, CA where she attained the rank of Lieutenant.   Soon, it was on the Navel Regional Medical Center, Oakland CA as a Nursing Instructor for the Neuropsychiatric Technician “C” school.

In early 1975, it was overseas for a 15-month tour at Naval Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan for assignment as a Charge Nurse.   From there it was on to Naval Regional Medical Center, San DIEGO CA.  Her assignment here was as a Clinical Specialist in Nursing and subsequently as P.M. coordinator.   While in San Diego, LT Mailander was promoted to rank of Lieutenant Commander and by attending classes in her off-duty time, attained a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Northern Colorado University.

In 1979, it was back to Naval Hospital, Oakland CA for a tour as the Patient Care Coordinator.   Following this, for her second overseas tour, she was assigned as Chief Nurse at Naval Branch Clinic, Iwakuni, Japan where she was promoted to Commander.   During this tour Cmdr Mailander was awarded a special citation by a Japanese Fleet Commander for her coordination of emergency services for an aviation incident on the airbase.  In 1985 it was back to Naval Hospital, San Diego for her final tour of duty where she served as the Quality Assurance Program Coordinator for the command.  Commander Mailander retired in February 1989.

For her dedicated service during her most impressive and accomplished 22 years of Naval Service, Commander Mailander has earned the following awards: Navy Achievement Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

***

After retirement Pat moved back to Cass County, living at the location of Grandma Nimm’s house east of Wiota.  She later moved to Atlantic, IA.   Pat worked for Home Health Care but her primary vocation was taking care of our mother, Pearl, babysitting for nieces and nephews and attending their school events, and keeping track of family history.

In addition to her 22 years of distinguished service in the Navy Nurses Corps, Pat is remembered for her love of family, her cooking and baking, her tenacious Bridge playing skills, her green thumb, her fierce independence, her stories of our grandparents and life as an Iowa farm girl, and her unequivocal sense of right and wrong.   She dispensed free medical advice to all siblings and other relatives, she was passionate about staying in touch with family and friends, and she was also known as a world class do-it-yourselfer single-handedly residing her house one summer.  

Pat is survived by her siblings: Tom (Paula) Mailander Omaha NE, Gene (Pam) Mailander Fulda MN, Teresa (Greg) Benolkin Palmer AK, Paul (Amy) Mailander South Bend IN, Jim (Karen) Mailander Anita, IA and Carla (Doug) Rock Fairmont, MN; many nieces and nephews in Iowa, Nebraska, Chicago, Minnesota, Alaska, Los Angeles, Colorado and Washington DC; aunt Dorothy Mailander Webster City IA, and numerous cousins and extended family.

Pat is preceded in death by her grandparents Pete Mailander, Mary Waters Mailander Nimm, Bill Nimm, Albert and Bess Rourick; her parents Ed and Pearl Mailander; and aunts and uncles Paul and Marie Mailander, John Thomas Mailander, Jack and Darlene Rourick, Dick Rourick, Don Rourick, Bob and Norma Rourick, Frank and Nancy Rourick, Mary Ostrander and Dorothy Rourick.

A Celebration of Life visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 25^th in Heritage Hall at Heritage House.  A private family burial, with military honors by the Navy Honor Guard and the Anita American Legion Post #210, will be held at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Pat Mailander Family, in care of Roland Funeral Service, P.O. Box 129, Atlantic, IA 50022, and will be designated to various charities in her memory.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Pat’s family and her arrangements.  Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.