Ilomae "Snooks" Patton

Ilomae “Snooks” Patton, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, and friend.   Snooks passed away on April 30, 2021, at the age of 80 from complications related to multiple sclerosis for which she battled for 56 years.  Snooks and her husband, Rex, resided in Lebanon Ohio, from April 2020 to the present time, previously residing at their country home of 40 years in Rochester, Minnesota.

Snooks was on born on June 17, 1940, and raised by her adopted parents Sanford Harrison (Harry) and Viola Mae (Froning) Towle, in Hampton, Iowa.

Snooks first met the love of her life, Rex, in a church sandbox at the age of 4, and after they both graduated from high school they fell in love and were married, on June 24, 1962, in Hampton, Iowa.  After high school, Snooks studied cosmetology and advanced hair design through Comer and Doran and graduated in 1960.  She used her cosmetology talents to help put her husband through college.   Upon Rex’s graduation from college, Rex and Snooks moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where Rex began his career with IBM and Snooks was a stay-at-home mother to their son, Thadd.

Snooks was active in church activities at The First Christian Church in Rochester, and volunteered with Paws and Claws, mostly enjoying time playing with and nurturing the cats at the shelter.  Snooks loved nature and the wildlife they experienced at their country home.  Snooks loved waking up each morning to see deer in the yard and laughing at all the adventures the squirrels were creating on the bird feeders.  Snooks especially loved a pair of peacocks that showed up one day at their country home and after feeding them well and building a bird aviary for them to stay warm in the winter, they stayed and produced several generations of peacocks that were often given to local zoos and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Snooks loved to grow and care for plants, having the best green thumb of the family.  She tended to plants that were previously tended to by her mother, some of them over 80 years old.  Snooks loved to crochet, hook rug, and do needle point crafts with the church ladies, as well as sew and make clothing for herself and her family.  Snooks was a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan, loving the team through thick and thin, and joining in the camaraderie of games with her children and grandchildren.

Snooks will be lovingly remembered by her Son, Thadd (Brenda), Grandson, Jesse (Ashton), and Granddaughter, Amanda.  Snooks will be fondly remembered by her great grandchildren, Brady and Emerson.   Snooks is preceded in death by her Father and Mother, her Husband, Rex, her Brothers Harry Lloyd, Carl, and Laverne, as well as her Sister, Francis.

A celebration of her life will be held at Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton, Iowa on July 3, 2021, at 10:00 am, with visitation at 9:00 am.  Online streaming of the service will be available for those who are unable to attend in person.  Interment of both Rex Patton and Ilomae Patton's ashes will be held at the family cemetery plot in Hampton, Iowa immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society  or Paws and Claws Humane Society