Lela "Patty" Emmert, age 79 of North Liberty, Iowa, died on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22nd at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell and her family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday. Memorials may be designated to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital or to PALS (Poweshiek Animal League Shelter), mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with her family online at www.smithfh.com. Lela Patricia Emmert was born on May 2, 1939 at St. Francis Hospital in Grinnell, Iowa. She was raised in Malcom, Iowa and she graduated from Montezuma High School in 1957, where she was a cheerleader and she also played the piano. Patty was a nanny for many years. She enjoyed swimming, playing cards, going out to eat with her friends, and listening to classical music. She followed one of her great nieces, Kali Smith in her speech activities and plays in Brooklyn. Patty is survived by her brother, Dale (Dona) Emmert; nieces and nephews, Vicki (Keith) Fuquay, Mike (Lynda) Emmert, Diane Nixon, Charlie (Tomas) Lasansky, Teresa (Bill) Simonton, Paula Grimm, Kevin (Deb) Huntington; and many other great nieces and nephews. Patty was preceded in death by her daughter Michelle Dunnette, her brother Dick Emmert and parents Irene and Louie Emmert.