Jim Patten

Terrell James “Jim” Patten, 82, of Holiday Lake north of Brooklyn, passed peacefully on June 3, 2026, at home surrounded by his family.

Jim’s family will greet friends at the visitation held from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Holiday Lake Community Center, 6047 Lakeshore Drive, Brooklyn, IA 52211. A funeral service will be held at 4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Holiday Lake Community Center. Following the service, attendees are invited to join the family for a light dinner.

Memorial checks should be made payable to his wife, Kathy Patten, to be gifted to local organizations and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 342, Brooklyn, IA 52211.  Memories and condolences may be shared with Jim's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Jim was born in Brooklyn, Iowa, on September 27, 1943. He attended Grinnell schools. He moved to Holiday Lake in 1963 and made it his lifelong home. On December 16, 1977, he married Katherine Jean Patten.

Jim began his career with Preston Refrigeration in Kansas City, Missouri, contributing to the construction of refrigeration plants around the United States. He later worked at Thomas Tire, which eventually led to his ownership of Malcom Tire in Malcom, Iowa. He then went to work for DeKalb in Grinnell, where he spent 23 years before retiring in 2006. In retirement, Jim became known as the “Holiday Lake handyman,” often helping neighbors and supporting local projects. He was also an active member of the Holiday Lake RIS Committee.

Beyond his strong work ethic, he was a man of many passions. He loved building cars, snowmobiling, woodworking and riding motorcycles. You could often find him watching NASCAR or any form of racing. He enjoyed attending local car shows, taking drives in his beloved Ford Thunderbird and spending time with his friends at the lake. Above all, however, he cherished spending time with his grandchildren—whether it was watching them ride golf carts, mopeds and the Can-Am around the lake, or attending as many of their ball games and activities as possible.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy Jean Patten of Holiday Lake; daughter, Trisha Ann (Scott) Robbins of Demorest, Georgia; and son, Terry James (Miranda) Patten of Mitchellville, Iowa; his grandchildren: Tegan Simmons, Daniel Robbins, Dustyn Robbins, Jadyn Patten, and Jace Patten; and numerous nieces and nephews. His children’s “furry little brother,” Cruiser, was also a cherished part of the family.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Della Patten; his sisters, Deaner, Norma, Anna Belle, Donna, Patty, Linda, Nancy, and Lila; his brothers, Wayne and Ed; and in-laws Betty-Jean and Hollis Patrick, sister-in-law, Kim Lund, and brother-in-law Keith Keenan.

Jim will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering devotion to his family and community.