Patricia Ann Gutknecht

Patricia Ann Gutknecht, 94, of Dike, passed away at the Grundy County Hospital on Saturday, September 2, 2023.   She was born in Waterloo on August 16, 1929, daughter of John and Margaret (Pierce) Bird.   Pat attended St. John's School, Hawthorne School and Our Lady of Victory Academy in Waterloo.  On November 8, 1947, she was married to Harold Kent in Sumner. The couple had four daughters together and later divorced.   Pat married Roger Gutknecht on September 22, 1962, in Decorah.  She was a homemaker and partner with Roger on their farm and she "retired" in 1980.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roger; stepsons: Gary, Phil & Denny Gutknecht; stepdaughters: Delores Ridder and Beverly Ferguson; brothers: Richard "Dickie", Gary and Jack Bird; and grandchildren, Chad Gutknecht and Dawn Pietro. She is survived by her daughters: Margie (Steve) Pries of Katy, Texas, Peggy Knight of Arlington, TX, Mary Jo (Dennis) Grandon of Dike, Marlys (Jay) Sharp of Wake Forest, North Carolina and Paula Carter of Cedar Rapids; 28 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great grandchildren; sister, Mary Ellen Thacker of Minnesota; and sister-in-law, Ginny Bird of Mankato, Minnesota.

Patricia's Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church of Hudson with Visitation from 5-7:00 pm on Wednesday, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home of Cedar Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to UnityPoint Hospice or St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Pat enjoyed reading, playing solitaire, doing crossword puzzles and adult coloring books. She especially enjoyed Halloween and the accompanying costumes because of her love for all children. Pat was a fantastic mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother and will be dearly missed.