Patrick Fitzgerald, 83, Albert Lea

Published 10:20 am Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The funeral service for Patrick A. Fitzgerald will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. Deacon Mike Ellis and the Rev. Curtis Zieske of Trinity Lutheran Church will officiate. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea Area veterans organizations.

Patrick Fitzgerald

Patrick Fitzgerald died on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at his home. He was 83 years old.

Patrick was born on May 13, 1929, in Rochester. The son of Patrick and Margaret (Tillman) Fitzgerald, he was raised in Adams where he was a 1947 graduate of Adams High School. After graduation, he moved to the Austin and Albert Lea areas. He was united in marriage to Evelyn Bahls on Aug. 11, 1951, and later divorced. He served his country in the U.S. Army where he was stationed in France. On May 16, 1981, he married Gloria Jensen at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.

Patrick was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church. He ran Pats Mobile Lunch in Albert Lea before becoming the owner of Eddie’s Bar. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, American Legion and the Elks Club. Patrick enjoyed watching the Vikings and Twins, played baseball early in life and reading about the Civil War and World War II. He ran the cancer telethon and could play the violin and piano by ear.

Patrick is survived by his wife, Gloria Fitzgerald, of Albert Lea; daughter, Michele (Ray) Fitzgerald of Duluth; son-in-law, Joe Prihoda of Albert Lea; step-son, Terry (Susan) Smith of Albert Lea; grandchildren, Jazz Prihoda, Sage Prihoda, Tayler Tollers, Chandler Tollers; step-grandchildren, Amanda Smith, Brady Berg and Jason (Farrah) Olson; step-great-grandchild, Brynn Olson; brother, Allen (Betty) Schaefer of Arizona; brother-in-law, Donald Jensen of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law, Judy Schaefer of Owatonna, Susan Schaefer of Owatonna and Betty Madson of Apple Valley; and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Margaret; daughter, Cathy Jo Fitzgerald; step-father, William Schaefer; and brothers, Tom Schaefer and Jerry Schaefer.

Memorials preferred to St. Theodore Catholic Church, Trinity Lutheran Church or donor’s choice.