Patrick "Pat" Joseph Calvert

Patrick “Pat” Joseph Calvert of Urbandale, IA, peacefully passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by his family.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM, with a prayer service and eulogies at 7:00 PM at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory, 8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale.

Visitation will continue on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, from 9:00 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM. A luncheon will follow in the Parish Hall.

Burial will be Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 10:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery in Dyersville.

Patrick Joseph was born on December 11, 1961, in Iowa City, IA, the fourth of seven children to Duane and Julia (Ullrich) Calvert. Pat attended elementary schools in Fort Dodge and Waukon, IA. He completed junior high at Riverside and graduated from Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, IA in 1980. He played football, wrestled, and ran track.

Pat attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics.

Pat met his “brown-eyed girl”, Amy Bell, in 1992. Pat and Amy married on August 13, 1994, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, IA, in true MCI fashion with a “Friends and Family” wedding. Pat’s fourteen-year MCI Telecommunications sales leadership career took them from Sergeant Bluff, IA, to Albuquerque, NM; Austin, TX; and Wichita, KS, before making their home in Urbandale, IA, for the past 19 years.

Pat and Amy were blessed with four amazing children: Zachary, Jacob, Nicholas, and Lily. The kids were Pat’s EVERYTHING. He was always present supporting them, teaching them the importance of their faith, family, academics and friends. He blessed them with many entertaining life lessons on every car ride.

Pat was a partner in Raging Mouse Recruiting in Wichita, KS. After moving back to Iowa, he worked for EDS and Aviva and consulted for PurFoods and MarketLink.

In May 2012, he became self-employed as an Executive Recruiter, partnering with the wonderful team at Career Search Associates in West Des Moines, IA. He was blessed with clients and candidates from all over the country. His extensive network included lots of his former colleagues.

Pat had a love for music, from vinyl records to cassettes to concerts, especially Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, and Need to Breathe. Pat was a sports fanatic and historian. His favorite teams were the Green Bay Packers, Iowa State Cyclones, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the Dowling Catholic Maroons. Pat was the guy you wanted on your trivia team; his knowledge of music, sports, and United States history was second to none.

Pat and Amy enjoyed playing golf and pickleball, family vacations with the Calverts and Bells, going on walks and spending time with family and friends. Pat was a runner, and one of his accomplishments was completing the Chicago Marathon. Pat was an assistant coach and statistician for his boys’ sports teams. He loved attending all of his kid’s sporting and school events. Zack, Jake, Nick and Lily were his pride and joy.

Pat was a man of strong faith. He shared his faith, gifts, and experiences with God with anyone who would listen, resulting in many renewing their faith and being healed. At St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Sunday Mass Coordinator, and a Men’s Faith Sharing Group member. Pat was also passionately involved in Prairie Fire and Holy Desires Ministries. He loved leading the rosary for Dowling parents on football game Fridays.

Those left to cherish his memories and live out his legacy include his wife Amy of 29 years; sons Zachary, Jacob, and Nicholas; and daughter Lily, all of Urbandale, IA. His mother, Julia Calvert of Apache Junction, AZ; brothers, Mike (Jamie) Calvert of Wichita, KS and Tom (Denise) Calvert of Austin, TX; sisters, Ellen (Jeff) Wickey of Apache Junction, AZ; Coco (Kevin) Gebro of Albuquerque, NM; Karey (Bill) Kittler of New Ulm, MN; Kathy (Ray) Myers of Apache Junction, AZ; father-in-law Dave Bell of Dyersville, IA; sister-in-laws Carmen Bell of Chandler, AZ, Molly Bell of Chandler, AZ, and Emily (Paul) Scranton of Bettendorf, IA. Pat was an Uncle to 20 nieces and nephews and was a nephew, cousin, co-worker and loyal friend of many.

Pat was preceded in death by his father, Duane Calvert; his mother-in-law, Patricia Bell; his grandparents, Earl and Helen Calvert and Engelbert and Ella Ullrich.

Memorial donations can be directed to the family who will designate it towards St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Dowling Catholic High School and Prairie Fire Ministries.

Pat’s final act of kindness was to give the gift of life through organ donation.