Patricia “Pat” Matthes, 92, of Sheldon, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon, surrounded by her family.

    Pat was born April 19, 1933, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Joe and Nettie (Richards) Donahue. She grew up in Des Moines and attended St. Joseph Academy. On July 4, 1953, she married Jerry Matthes at St. Ambrose Church in Des Moines. The couple had two children: Mark and Monica, and lived in Des Moines before moving to Sheldon in 1968.

    Pat briefly worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell, but devoted most of her life to being a homemaker and mother. She was a faithful member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheldon.

     Known for her independence and attention to detail, Pat took great pride in caring for her home and yard, often climbing ladders to clean gutters and finishing lawn edging with scissors. She enjoyed spending time visiting with friends. She was sarcastic, quick-witted, and hilarious, and had a talent for appearing completely innocent despite her remarks.

    She loved Elvis, old “good” country music, listening to baseball and college basketball on the radio, and watching sports on her small black-and-white television in the kitchen.

    Affectionately called “$5 Grams,” she delighted her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many children of family friends by mailing greeting cards with a $5 bill tucked inside.

    Pat is survived by her daughter, Monica (Rick) Hauger of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; daughter-in-law, Barb Matthes of Sheldon, Iowa; three grandchildren: Trisha (Aaron), Theresa (Michael) and William (Lori); and seven great-grandchildren.

    She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Matthes; her son, Mark Matthes; her parents; her sister, Margaret Kreps; and two brothers, Joseph and Robert Donahue. 

Pat requested no visitation, service or flowers; her family is honoring her wishes.

Her final resting place will be with her daughter, Monica (Rick) Hauger, in Arkansas.