Patricia Bangert

Patricia "Pat" Wade Bangert, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 10, 1938, in Decatur, Illinois, to Thomas Harvey and Virginia Vandivort Beadles. A short time later, they moved to Cairo, Illinois, while her father proudly served in World War II.

She and Richard Fred "Dick" Bangert were married Aug. 16, 1959, in Cairo. He preceded her in death Feb. 14, 2015.

Pat spent her childhood growing up in Cairo and graduated from Cairo High School. She continued her education at University of Illinois, where she joined the Phi Mu Sorority. Up until the last few years, Pat and Dick would meet up with her sorority sisters every year and go on a new adventure.

While at U of I, she started as a chemical engineering major. It was at a fraternity dance that she met the love of her life, Dick Bangert. They enjoyed sorority socials and fraternity dances. It was then that she changed her major to home economics. Her chemical engineering background was not lost but very handy for removing stains from her children's and husband's clothing and while concocting the best home-cooked meals for family and friends.

When raising her children, she made most of their clothes by hand. Every Friday night, she would fry chicken for not only her family, but also those in the neighborhood.

Pat was a wonderful hostess. She was known for her Halloween party and "The Great" cookie bake around Christmas. She always looked forward to time with the ones she loved most. She always loved hosting the big holidays of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family.

The Fourth of July was always a big event, known as the Vandivort Family Reunion. It included cherished time with cousins, hours of intense bridge games all through the night, large dinners and a tour of the farms while celebrating memories from the family and creating new ones.

She also enjoyed the birthday celebrations and fish fries with the Neal, Senn, Schuette, Kahle, Goodwin, Collier, Stover and Abernathy families.

Dick and Pat were always inseparable, and they traveled extensively. She enjoyed fishing and bear hunting in Alaska; trout fishing all over the United States; deep-sea fishing in Islamorada, Florida; and a hunting trip to Africa for their 25th wedding anniversary. One thing Dick and Pat also prided themselves on and loved the most was attending every single sporting event, theater event and anything/everything they could for their grandchildren.

After Dick passed away in 2015, she enjoyed flying in style all over the United States to watch her dual National Champion vizsla, Red, compete in dog trials. She also started driving her red Corvette again and became a gym rat while rehabbing from hip, ankle and knee surgery.

Pat was a great champion of her husband, children, grandchildren and friends. To say Pat was a force to be reckoned with is an understatement. She lived life on her own terms and was undeterred by "style changes" and modern developments.

She wasn't afraid to offer her thoughts on a subject, but would also listen to yours. She would always bring the hostess of a dinner party flowers and follow it up a few days later with a handwritten thank you note. Pat felt that becoming friends with the waitress was just as important as being friends with the restaurant manager. She had a very large and diverse group of friends and will most assuredly be missed by all of them.

Although the family was not prepared for her sudden passing, they are thankful her health did not cause her to give up her car keys nor her independence. She was a special lady who led a great life, and those who loved her are thankful for God's blessing and the gift of her presence for the last 85 years.

She was a proud member of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson. She also belonged to Professional Home Economists, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and Cape Girardeau Country Club, and was an avid bridge player.

Survivors include two daughters, Julia (Ken) Kohlberg of Chesterfield and Dr. Karen (Tom Muir) Bangert, D.V.M., of Cape Girardeau; a son, Richard Thomas Bangert of Cape Girardeau; seven grandchildren, Laura (Scott) Ozark, Robert Kohlberg, Stephanie Kohlberg, Emily (Scotti Iman) Muir, Patrick Kohlberg, Jessica Muir and Johnathan (Madison) Kohlberg; two great-grandchildren, Mabry and Madison Ozark; brother, John "Jack" Beadles of Kennesaw, Georgia; sister, Gail (Richard) Hercules of Oxford, Mississippi; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sue and Danny Bangert of Shipman, Illinois; brother-in-law, David Bangert of Carlinville, Illinois; and many beloved nephews and their families. Let's not fail to mention her exceptional dog, Bangerts "Red" Baron, and trainer, Brian Gingrich.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a nephew.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will follow at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at the funeral home, with G. Kirk Williams officiating. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.