Patricia Ann Henry Demke passed away peacefully on January 17, 2022 after a long battle with dementia. She was preceded in death by her father, James Luke Henry, mother, Winnifred Mae Davis Henry, her infant brother, Joseph Randall Henry, infant sister, Nancy Jean Henry, great granddaughter, Amelia Elisabeth Schmidt and husband, Donald Albert Demke.

Pat was born in Berwyn Illinois in July 1931 and grew up in La Grange Park IL. She graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange IL in 1949 and attended Lyons Township Junior College. Two years later she married her high school sweetheart, Don Demke, started their family and bought a home in Western Springs, IL. Don’s job took them to Bethel Park PA, Marion OH, Western Springs a second time, and Dothan AL. In each place, Pat made a home for her husband and children and volunteered in the church and community. After Don’s death, she worked at D. Ethridge in Dothan for many years.

Summers, from the time she was little, were always spent at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. Since 1957 those summers were spent at the family home which she dearly loved in the Buena Vista Club, in the village of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake WI. Every evening she could be seen sitting on the front porch, reading her then favorite book.

Her faith was an important part of her life and she made certain her children were raised in the church. While living in Dothan, she could be found in the front row of the balcony of the First United Methodist Church.

Pat enjoyed reading, antiquing, playing bridge, and her pets. There was always at least one cat in the household all her life and sometimes a dog, too. She was a proud member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter W, AL.

She is survived by her four children; Kathleen Schmidt (Don) of Lawrenceville GA, Randall Demke (Linda) of Parma OH, Janet Corbitt of Lawrenceville GA and Patricia Welch (Dan) of Millsboro DE, six grandchildren; Carl Schmidt, Stephanie Curtis, Jacquelyn Kachenko, Bethany Abbott-Welch, Amanda Ziegler, and Ryan Welch, and six great grandchildren; Teddy and Miles Schmidt, Ivy and Isla Kachenko, and Henry and Ollie Abbott-Welch.

A Memorial Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Memorial Service, 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 19 at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Interment to follow at Bethania Cemetery. Funeral information: (708) 352-6500.

In lieu of flowers, donations to First United Methodist Church Dothan, The P.E.O Foundation, or Alzheimer’s Association are greatly appreciated.