Patricia A. (Ele) Mitchem

Patricia Ann (Ele) Mitchem, age 74, of Trenton, NE passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Great Plains Health in North Platte, NE.

Patty was born on July 14, 1945 in Imperial, NE to parents Winfield L "Pat" and Maxine (Willsey) Ele.  She was one of four siblings born to this union.  The family made their home in Wauneta, NE where Patty attended school through the fifth grade. At that time, the family moved to McCook, NE where she attended McCook Public Schools, graduating from McCook High School with the Class of 1964.  Patty furthered her education at McCook Community College, receiving her Associates of Arts degree, and also the University of Nebraska at Kearney where she received a Bachelors Degree in special education.

On March 17, 1973, Patty married Gerald (Mitch) Thomas Mitchem in McCook. She and Gerald made their home in McCook. Patricia was a substitute teacher at McCook, Indianola, Culbertson and St Patrick’s Schools. She was also a para-professional for a year at Republican Valley and taught special education for seven years at Republican Valley/Southwest High School. She loved all her students. In her spare time, she enjoyed going to her nieces and nephew’s sports games, traveling, cross-stitch, crocheting, and crafting.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Pat and Maxine Ele; beloved grandparents, Delburn (Irene) Willsey, Ned and step-grandmother Nellie Ele and grandmother, Opal Ele McKnight.

Those left to celebrate her life include her loving husband Gerald Mitchem of Trenton; brothers Robert Ele of Lincoln, NE and Ned (Kim) Ele of Scottsbluff, NE; sister Mary (Tom) Vontz of McCook; twelve nieces and nephews; one step niece; and several great nieces and nephews.