Patricia "Pat" Hutzel

Mesa - Patricia (Schara) Hutzel, 95, passed away on August 5, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona. Patricia was born in Postville, Iowa to Ada and Herman Schara on March 2, 1929. She was raised in West Union, Iowa with her two sisters, Mary Jean Schara and Virginia (Schara) Youngberg. One of her childhood joys was a pony that her parents gave her to care for and ride. After graduating from West Union High School, she began attending Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. During her freshman year at UIU she met the love of her life Kenneth W. Hutzel, a basketball and football star at UIU, who was selected to the UIU Athletic Hall of Fame. They were married in 1947 and began a loving family, blessed with four children.

The family lived in various small towns in Iowa where Ken was a football and basketball coach and Pat was his support as a scorekeeper and fan. In 1962 the family moved to Holbrook, Arizona. While in Holbrook Patricia worked at various bookkeeping and administrative jobs before starting her own Pet Grooming business. During this time Pat again returned to her love of horses and became a Licensed Trainer of Race Horses. Pat and Ken had a number of race horses who ran in races throughout Arizona with numerous winners over the years. A highlight of their racing career was a trip to see the Kentucky Derby live on their 40th wedding anniversary.

Pat and Ken retired and moved to Surprise, Arizona and later to Mesa, Arizona where they developed many wonderful friends. Pat and Ken were married for 50 wonderful, glorious years before Ken’s passing in 1997. In Pat’s later years she lived in an assisted living facility where she continued to make numerous friends with her loving and gracious character. Pat loved to watch movies, was an avid sports fan supporting Arizona teams, and enjoyed going to the casino and playing bingo.

Patricia is survived by her four children Bill (Bridget) Hutzel, Bob (Julie) Hutzel, Jeanne (Craig) Heaton, and Paul (Connie)Hutzel, 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

Patricia will be buried with her loving husband at the VA National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.