Patricia Lorraine (White) Gaer was born at home in Oakland, Iowa on July 14, 1939 to Gordon and Dorothy (Lembke) White. Growing up people knew her by Patsy. Pat grew up and graduated in Oakland. When she was a teenager her family moved to California, but Pat really wanted to graduate with her class and be close to the man she loved, Harold Gaer. When Harold and Pat graduated they joined Pat’s family in California, where they married on June 22, 1958. Two children were born to this marriage Rebecah (Becky) Gaer of Woodbine, Iowa and Kathryn (Kathy) Gaer of Harlan, Iowa.
While in California Pat worked in the office at a car dealership for a short time before becoming a full time mom. In 1968, the family moved back to Iowa where Harold and Pat enjoyed all their favorite outdoor activities: hunting, fishing, trapshooting and camping. Pat was one of the first women to compete in trapshooting and won several trophies for the sport.
Over the years Pat held many positions at Variety Distributors, CDS Global. LaQunita Inns and Westridge Apartments in Harlan. When working for LaQuinta Inns, Harold and Pat started as relief managers and traveled all over the United States. Pat enjoyed the travel and loved seeing all the new places.
Pat passed away on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at her home in Harlan, Iowa, attaining the age of eighty-four years, five months, and two days. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold Gaer, parents Gordon and Dorothy White, sister Judy Cochran and brothers-in-law Richard and Warren.
Survivors include daughters Becky of Woodbine, Iowa; Kathy (Glenn) of Harlan, Iowa; grandchildren Melissa Nichols (Scott Kempkes) of Lincoln, Nebraska; Amanda (Noah) Betzold of Omaha, Nebraska; 2 great grandchildren; sisters Donna Dewey of Allyn, Washington; Sharon (Ron) Higginbotham of Moorpark, California; brother-in-law Allen (Sue) Gaer of McCormick, South Carolina; nieces and nephews; other family members and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan. Visitation is Saturday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home.
