Patsy Lee Redfern

Patsy Lee "Pat" (Kleesick) Redfern was the daughter of Fred and Lucille (Gammill) Kleesick of Bartley, Nebraska. Patsy Lee was born March 21, 1930, in the old Cambridge, Nebraska Hospital. She passed away at the Community Hospital of McCook, on July 26, 2022, at the age of 92. Pat grew up on a farm, in the dirty 30s, south of Bartley. She attended grade school at the country one-room school District #45 for eight years, then went to High School in Bartley where she graduated in 1947. She excelled in vocal music, drama, normal training and history classes. She passed her Normal Training tests and this followed a week of practice teaching in her home District #45. After high school graduation she taught at Marion, NE District #4 from fall of 1947-1948, teaching a one-year term. September 2, 1948 at her parents home in Bartley, she became the Bride of Alan Howard Redfern of Marion, NE. They lived in the Aaron H. Redfern family home in Marion for 39 years. They spent those years farming and operating a cattle feeding operation. One son, James Alan Redfern was born to this union, November 14, 1949. Pat led a very busy life. She continued her education from home and received a Decorating Degree from Chicago School of Design. Using her decorating degree she helped friends and family with decorating their homes and also building and planning new homes. She was most happy when asked to remodel and restore old homes of historical value, helping save the 1886 jail in Bartley and the 1888 depot in Danbury. Serving on the Depot Board of Directors since 1981, was one of her proudest achievements. Through the years Pat owned and operated two stores, "Three Ps" in a Pod" in Oberlin, KS and "Grandmas Attic" in Danbury. She also gave ceramic lessons in Bartley and Danbury. Pat also worked for several stores in McCook including House of Dcor, and manager and buyer for the Bath, Linen and Closet, owned by the DeGroffs Store. She worked for Samway Furniture and self-Service Furniture. For several years she traveled in Nebraska and Kansas for Farmland Industries, giving decorating programs for their customer appreciation days held in many towns. For over 25 years, she was a featured guest speaker for Project Clubs, Womens Clubs and many more giving decorating programs. Her program was featured at the Chamber of Commerce Home Builders Show in 1979 at Kearney, NE. The Redfern farm home in Marion was featured in several local papers because of its unique dcor. In 1976, she was appointed by the county commissioners of Red Willow County as chairperson for the Centennial Celebration of the county. In this capacity she oversaw a celebration in each town in the county. Pat also wrote for local newspapers at different times in her life including Museum Musings for the Gazette, Pats Prattle for the Indianola News, Danbury-Marion News for the Cambridge Clarion. She was a big supporter of the Marion School and Church and helped keep them in operation for as long as possible. Her Marion Cub Scout Troop with her guidance, managed to obtain the Nelson Buck Memorial Park on Hiway 89 west of Marion, from the Nebraska State Engineers Association. She was past-president of the Southwest Historical Society. W While serving in this capacity, she was instrumental in getting a small mill levy passed to help support the High Plains Museum. She is a past-member of the 37 Star Chapter D.A.R. and was a past-regent. She was past-founder and past-president of the Danbury-Marion Federated Womens Club and Chorus. She was a member of the former Red Willow Ladies Club and Live and Learn Club of Bartley, member of Eureka Chapter O.E.S. of McCook and president of the Danbury American Legion Auxiliary #276 for 11 years. Her many hobbies included, ceramics, decorating, making scrap books, singing and playing the organ, and helping and serving on the Board of Directors of the Danbury Depot Museum. She also compiled her family histories, was an avid reader, and had an extensive home library. Not only did she love to read, she also compiled several books. While president of the Historical Society of McCook, she helped with the McCooks 100th Anniversary Book, while president of the Danbury A.L.A. 276, she spearheaded the compiling and printing of the Danbury-Marion Veterans book, also during this time she had printed the Red Willow County book "Veterans at Pearl Harbor" and most recently at the age of 86 she planned a History Book of her hometown of Bartley for the towns 130th Birthday Celebration. She also has had family books printed. In 2010, she moved back to her hometown of Bartley. Pat devoted herself to the care of her aged parents, Fred and Lucille Kleesick, also was a care-giver to other family members and several friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alan Redfern in July of 1990; her granddaughter, Leigh Ann Redfern in July of 1991; grandson, Kurt Aaron Redfern in April 2001; her beloved parents and all of her aunts, uncles and several cousins of the Kleesick and Gammill families. Mourning her passing is her son, James Redfern of McCook; granddaughter, Erika and husband, Ben Allen of Lone Tree, CO; and cousin Lois Stellings of Topeka, KS. Graveside Service Danbury Marion Cemetery Friday, July 29, 2022 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM 70446 Road 394 Danbury, Nebraska