John Clinton "Steve" Patterson John Clinton "Steve" Patterson, 91, of
Grand Junction, Iowa John Clinton Patterson, son of Charles Clinton and Florence Hazel (Wolf) Patterson, was born March 14, 1912 at Grand Junction, Iowa. As a youth, Steve (a nickname given him by his mother) helped in his dad’s livery barn. Steve became interested in the projectors at the movie theater, and at the age of 16 began learning how to operate them at the Grand Junction Theater. Steve attended school in Grand Junction, graduating with the class of 1931. Following graduation, he worked for a short time for the Iowa Railway and Light Co. out of Woodward. From 1932 to 1935 he worked for the Blue Line Transfer, a moving and hauling company owned by his father; and also drove a school bus. During the summers of 1934 and 1935 Steve detasseled corn for the Turner Hybrid Seed Corn Company. In July of 1936, he became a full-time employee. He spent many years working very closely with Harry Turner in the breeding of the corn, and probably did as much hand pollinating as anyone in the seed corn industry. He worked throughout the seed corn plant in all areas of testing. In 1949 he began to drive one of their trucks and delivered corn. In 1957 he was promoted to salesman, and in 1960 when the company was sold and re-named YW Hybrids, he became a sales manager. He covered territories in parts of Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa where he also conducted a breeding program. He held this position until he retired May 27, 1983. Steve had continued to operate the projectors some evening and weekends until it closed in 1953. From 1954 until 1971 he operated the projectors at the Ogden Theater. On May 15, 1938, Steve was united in marriage to Audra Emeline Towers at Grand Junction. They were the parents of one daughter, Avis LuRae. From November 1942 until February 1946, Steve served in the United States Army. He served in Unit 570 of the Signal Corps, and was stationed in Tampa, Florida and Oahu, Hawaii, receiving his discharge at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Steve was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church at Grand Junction, and since 1973 had also attended the Gospel Open Bible Church in Jefferson. He was a member of the Ray Hawbaker American Legion Post #28, and the Odd Fellows Lodge #308. Steve lived his whole life in Grand Junction until December of 2001 when he went to stay in Des Moines with his daughter and son-in-law. Steve remained with them until November 12 when he entered Mercy Capitol Medical Center with double pneumonia. He passed away there on November 26 from complication from the pneumonia. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, Audra in 1981, two sisters: Doris Calvert and Phyllis Wolf, and a nephew, Ivan Metzger. Survivors include his daughter, Avis, and her husband Francis “Fry” Van Wyk of Des Moines, granddaughters: Tracy and her husband, Jeff Bentley of Milwaukie, Oregon; Valerie and her husband, Mike Fouts of Waukee, Iowa; and Dana and her husband, Nick Arend of Milwaukie, Oregon. Also surviving are great-grandchildren: Jacob, Jaclynn and Roselynn Bentley of Milwaukie, and Dakota Fouts of Waukee; a sister, Iola Metzger of Grand Junction, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to Jefferson Gospel Open Bible Church, Grand Junction Fire and Rescue, or First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction.
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