E. Patricia "Patti" Simonett

Erma Patricia “Patti” Simonett departed peacefully on August 10, 2016.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 16, 2016, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mankato.  Visitation will be held one hour before service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato.  Northview-North Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials may be given to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

She was born in 1921, in Iowa, the daughter of Ernest Wesley and Olga Martha Helena (Kremmin) Lauver.  She grew up in Cottonwood County, MN.  Patti graduated from Mankato State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1949.  In 1956, she received her Master of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado, Greely, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi.  In 1962, Patti married James Joseph Simonett.  They moved to Fairmont where she taught school and James owned and operated Simonett Motors.  Patti previously taught in other Minnesota school districts including Worthington, Wilmar and Mankato (Washington Elementary).

Patti earned a Genealogy degree in 1965, and became a professional genealogist working on both her and her husband’s family history.  Highlights of Patti’s life were serving as general chairman of the Martin County Bicentennial Festival at Fairmont in 1975-76, publishing Le Center family histories in the Le Center Minnesota book, “Century of Memories,” and teaching genealogy.

 Patti was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato and formerly of St. John Vianney in Fairmont.  She loved being part of church activities.  Her hobbies were genealogy, antiques, reading and traveling in the United States and Europe.

Patti was a member of the National Education Association, MN Education Association, Retired Education Association of MN, Mankato Area Retired Education Association, and genealogy societies in MN, Iowa, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Patti was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister and brother; and her loving husband James Simonett.