Patrick Thomas McLaughlin, 92, of Burlington, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in his apartment at Addington Place in West Burlington.
Born in Burlington in 1931, he was the son of Daniel A. and Marie E. Fitzgerald McLaughlin. Pat lived in Burlington most of his life except during the great depression as a child, his family lived in the Dodgeville / Mediapolis area. On Sept. 19, 1953, he married Elsie Colleen Whitaker in Burlington. They celebrated many wonderful years until her passing on Feb. 3, 2023.
Pat worked for Carl A Nelson Construction, was a licensed real estate agent and finished his career working for over 15 years at the Iowa State Penitentiary. He would often joke that working with maximum security inmates was one of the most rewarding aspects of his career. In 1979 Pat opened the West Side Racquetball Club in West Burlington, Iowa and would own and operate the club for about 6 years prior to moving on to the Iowa State Penitentiary where he would retire from.
One of Pat's passions in life was the sport of handball, which was the catalyst for him opening the club in West Burlington. Pat would spend the 1970's and 1980's running handball leagues and tournaments in Burlington at the downtown YMCA and then the club in West Burlington. Family vacations would often be in conjunction with the national junior's handball tournaments that all three of his son's would compete in throughout their youth. Pat played handball competitively until he was about 84 years old and when he was 80, he traveled to Minneapolis for the national tournament and finished second in the doubles division for players 80 and above. Pat was also an avid hunter and traveler. He would often travel to Missouri to hunt with his son Pat and his grandson Drake. He also traveled to Africa for a hunting trip and several times to South America duck hunting with Pat Jr. He and Elsie traveled to Alaska, Mexico, Europe, Hawaii and went on several cruises.
Survivors include his sons, Patrick (Lori) McLaughlin of Dawn, Mo., Andrew (Yumiko Shiga) McLaughlin of Fort Myers, Fla., and Matt (Melanie) McLaughlin of Lenexa, Kan.; four grandchildren, Lauryn McLaughlin of Shawnee, Kan., Drake McLaughlin of Ames, Madison McLaughlin of Lenexa, Kan., and Tengi Shiga of New York, N.Y.; and two sisters, Linda K (Tom) Clayton and Rosemary Carol Abel, both of Burlington.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Dan and Eugene McLaughlin, three sisters: Lorraine Hockett, Rita Smith, and Joan Riley.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street.
The funeral service for Mr. McLaughlin will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
The family would like to suggest any memorial contributions be made to the United States Handball Association for the "Joe Ardito Juniors Travel Fund" in Pat's memory. If you wish to donate you can use this link Unrestricted Fund - US HANDBALL and put Pat McLaughlin in the note line at checkout or leave monetary donations with the funeral home.