Patricia (Mueck) Watts

She was born June 28, 1944, in Columbus, Nebraska to Adolph and Elanor (Conaway) Mueck, and grew up in Rock Island, Illinois. In 1963 she married John Watts, also from Rock Island and, that same year, Patty and John moved to Minneapolis to make a home and begin their family.

Patty will always be “mom” to every kid – whether family or friend – that met her. Often that meant hauling a car load of kids to the Roller Garden skating rink, a summer swimming hole, or a soccer field. And our house was always the house where everyone hung out. One reason, of course, was the allure of Patty’s famous chocolate chip cookies and other wonderful baked goods. However, the real draw was the foundation of love that shined through all of her actions and all of her interactions. Patty always met you right where you were – no judgement and no demands that you be anyone other than yourself. Patty asked for very little and was always genuinely thrilled by the most human of things, whether that be a favorite sweet like chocolate ice cream (no soft-serve please!) or a chance to reconnect with a long-absent friend or family member. In our mind’s eye, we can all easily conjure an image of her smiling big, rubbing her hands together and grinning out a delight-filled “tehehehehehe” in response to the simplest of pleasures.

Relative to the rest of her family(!) Patty was calm and easy. At the same time, though, Patty had a “quiet stubbornness” that enabled her to push through hardships and opportunities with the same, consistent poise and determination. Through her sincerity and contentment, Patty taught us all how to be grateful. Through her consistent openness, Patty taught us all how to love. Patty was and is Beautiful.

Patty is survived by John, as well as her children, Jeffrey (Shelley Watts), Shawn (Bernadette Duperron), Johnna (Craig Hjelmeng), Andre (Brooke McCarthy), Sidney, Lorene (Domorrow Blair), her two brothers Phillip Mueck, Richard Mueck (Anna Mueck), her 29 grandchildren and her 31 great-grandchildren.

At Patty’s request, rather than a traditional Service, Kahler Dolce Mortuary will host a visitation from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 12th at 441 N Washington St, Papillion, NE 68046.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Patty to:

Rock Island Public Library Foundation for the Lorene E Watts Memorial Fund for Children's Materials at https://www.rockislandlibrary.org/support

Papillion Public Library Foundation at https://www.papillion.org/459/Papillion-Library-Foundation

Hot Shops Omaha at https://www.hotshopsartcenter.com/donate/

Boys Town at https://www.boystown.org/