Patricia Milligan Obituary

Patricia Jo Milligan, 87, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at her home. Visitation will be held at Iles Westover Chapel on Tuesday, December 17 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, with a Rosary at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 10:30 am at St. Theresa Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.

Patricia was born September 20, 1937, in Des Moines, IA, to Louis and Rose (Pagano) Sullivan. She married Russell Milligan at St. John’s Catholic Church in Des Moines on January 9, 1960. They were blessed with five children.

Patricia and her husband, Russell, owned and operated Milligan Construction. Together, they opened Pat’s Hallmark in 1981 in downtown Des Moines. She later worked as a skip tracer for Wells Fargo before her retirement in 1997.

In her free time, Patricia enjoyed gardening, cooking and canning, antiquing and furniture restoration. She was an artist with skills in painting and ceramics. One of her greatest accomplishments was completing RAGBRAI at fifty years old. She loved her involvement with Beginning Experience and The Life in the Spirit Community, volunteering and being a positive influence in her community. She particularly enjoyed teaching sewing at St. Theresa’s School with her mother and providing meals for funeral receptions.

Patricia is survived by her children, Dave (Barb) Milligan of West Des Moines, IA, Kimberlee (Brent) Curtis of Norwalk, IA, Shawn (Linus) Behne of LaVista, NE, Dana (Mike) McQuillen of Urbandale, IA, Rusty (Heather) Milligan of Des Moines, IA; grandchildren Ashley (Jon) Raftis of Waukee, IA, Laura (Chase) Davis of Andover, MN, Paige (Tyler) Ahrens of Des Moines, IA, Tanner Curtis of Carlisle, IA, Dylan Curtis of Waukee, IA, Sarah (Kevin) Murphy of Ankeny, IA, Shannon Williams of Webster City, IA, Lacey Milligan of Des Moines, IA, Noah Milligan of Des Moines, IA; great-grandchildren Jordan, Kathryn, Aurora, Henry, Oliver, Chloe, Brooks, and Olivia; brother Chuck Sullivan of Des Moines, IA, as well as many other beloved family members. She is preceded in death by her husband, Russell Milligan; infant son Danny Milligan; father Louis Sullivan; mother Rose Sullivan; brother Paul Sullivan, and sister Rosemary Shafer.

Patricia’s family would like to give a special thanks to the wonderful staff from St. Croix Hospice and Senior Helpers for their care and helping keep Patricia at home, where she wanted to be.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Croix Hospice or St. Theresa Catholic Church.

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel.

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