Patrick “Pat” Lawrence L’Ecuyer, 92, Morrowville, died Sunday, July 28, 2024 at the Heritage Care Center in Fairbury, NE.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 31 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington with a rosary service following at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., August 1 at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Joseph Kieffer officiating.
Pallbearers are Jerry Baker, Austin L’Ecuyer, Adam Umland, Ryan Umland, Logan Kier and Tyler Lienemann.
Burial will be in St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, north of Morrowville.
Pat was the sixth child born to Patrick and Mary (Kieffer) L’Ecuyer on October 20, 1931 at their rural home outside of Clifton. He was baptized nine days later at Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Clifton. He attended several different rural schools as the family moved to different farms. He recalled having nine different teachers by the time he graduated from the eighth grade. After his graduation, he farmed with his dad and brothers and was a part time mechanic for John Deere in Washington.
Pat and three of his brothers were drafted into the Army at the same time, but because his dad was in poor health, he and his brother Rich were deferred for two years until the older two boys returned home. Pat did his basic training at Fort Riley and after passing the mechanics test, he went to Fort Chaffee, AR for more mechanic training. He hitchhiked home from Arkansas to see his folks before returning to Little Rock, AR, where he boarded a plane to Seattle, WA and on to the 44th Surgical Mash Unit just north of the Chosin Reservoir in South Korea. Pat served two years as a motor pool mechanic earning the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged on October 28, 1955.
Pat returned home to the farm, which he felt the most comfortable. He met his future bride while cruising the square in Fairbury, NE, when he stopped her to tell her she had a flat tire and changed it for her. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” Muller on November 16, 1957 at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Fairbury, NE. The couple’s first home was a farmstead by Haddam and they later bought a farm north of Morrowville, which the family considers “the home place.” To this union six children were born, Jeanette, Jeffery, Deb, Carolyn, Thomas and Joseph.
Pat farmed most of his life until he was no longer able to crawl up in the tractor. He would tell you his blood ran as green as the John Deere tractors he loved. He and Betty worked hard to provide for their family and instilled that same work ethic in their children. Pat was a member of St. Peter and Paul and St. Augustine Catholic Churches. He served on the Production Credit Association (PCA) board. Pat loved retelling stories to his grandchildren about farming, his time in Korea and the trouble their parents had gotten into.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, James, John, Jerome, and Robert; and sisters, Agnes Miller, Patricia Bartels, Mary LeDuc and Evelyn Wassenberg.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Betty; children, Jeanette (Philip) Baker, Jeff (Chris) L’Ecuyer, Deb (Matt) Umland, Carolyn (Don) Osborne, Thomas (Twilya) L’Ecuyer and Joe (Jona) L’Ecuyer; sixteen grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren; brother Richard L’Ecuyer; and sisters, Martha (Frank) Nutsch and Helen (Linus) Linenberger; sister-in-law, Lois Muller and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial fund is established to St. Jude’s in lieu of flowers. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington, KS.
