Patsy R. (Drain) Pettera

Patsy R. (Drain) Pettera, age 89, of McCook, NE, formerly of Herndon, KS passed away Thursday, March 26, 2020 at Community Hospital in McCook. Patsy had lived at Brookdale Assisted Living Center the last several years.

Patsy was born May 24, 1930 in McCook to parents George Francis and Marion Esther (Fassler) Drain. She was one of four children who grew up in southwest Nebraska, attending school and graduating from Trenton High School with the Class of 1948. After high school, Patsy became a schoolteacher.

On June 6, 1950, Patsy married John Pettera, Sr. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Herndon.  The couple was blessed with five children: Kathy, Randy, Jim, Mary and John.  The family made their home near Herndon where Patsy played an active role on the family farm.

Patsy was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCook, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Herndon and the Red Hat Society.  She was a wonderful cook who loved canning and baking and an excellent seamstress who also enjoyed crocheting and cross stitching. Patsy was an avid reader and loved a good crossword puzzle.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Pettera, Sr. in 2003; her daughter, Kathy Larkin; two brothers, Ron and Harlan Drain; and her sister, Ardis Ibarra.

Those left to celebrate her life include her children, son Randy (Desree) Pettera of Junction City, KS, Jim (Sandi) Pettera of McCook, Mary (Pat) Zogelman of Marion, KS and John (Becky) Pettera, Jr. of Ludell, KS; grandchildren, Dana (Jeremy) Loew, Shawn Larkin, Chad (Erin) Pettera, Bryan Pettera, Jami (Dave) Reger, Kylee (Mike) Kime, Dani (Jason) Warner, Lisa (Christian) Gibbons, Sara (Zaid) Labidi, Krista (Efrain) Ruvalcaba; sixteen great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members and dear friends.