Monica Lou Patience

Monica Lou (Franklin) Patience went home to be with the Lord and Savior whom she had so joyfully served, on Saturday, December 21st, 2024.

Monica’s visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Adel Chapel. Her funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 27, 2024 with visitation resuming at 10:00 AM at the Earlham Church of Christ in Earlham. Burial will follow in the Earlham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com

She was born to Richard Dwain and Mildred Maxine (Keller) Franklin on February 8, 1956, in Creston, Iowa. Beginning at age 3, Monica lived in many places around the world with her parents, her sister, Lori and her brother, Mike, in such places as Japan, Turkey, Italy, Guam and Washington DC, as they traveled for Richard’s duties with the U.S. Navy. Eventually, Monica and her family moved to North Carolina where she graduated from Joseph P. Knapp High School in Currituck County in 1974. Following high school, she attended The Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Charlotte, North Carolina where she, in 1977, earned her diploma as a Registered Nurse. It was during her time in nursing school that she received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

Monica took her first nursing job at Madison County Memorial Hospital in Winterset, Iowa, working as an O.B. nurse. During her time there, she met Beverly White, a co-worker, who soon convinced her to go on a blind date with Bev’s brother, Gary Patience. Eight months later, Monica and Gary exchanged marriage vows on September 9, 1978. Thus began their forty-six-year journey together; raising the children who soon joined them: two daughters; Denise and Holly, and two sons; Ryan, and Stephen; while farming with Gary’s father, Herb, near Earlham. Monica chose to set aside her nursing career so she could stay at home to fully devote her care and attention to raising her family. She and Gary valued making the opportunity to raise their children with good character, working to instill in them the timeless values of faith, propriety and hard work. Homeschooling became a lifestyle they chose to further attain those goals. With that choice, Monica became one of the early pioneers of the homeschooling movement in Iowa. She worked with Iowa lawmakers to draft, and to later pass, legislation granting freedom to parents who desired to homeschool their children.

Monica resumed her nursing career in 2002 working as a nurse for Mercy Hospital in Des Moines for twenty years. She worked in a variety of roles including dialysis, endoscopy, scheduling and ambulatory surgery. Retiring in 2022, she devoted her time to traveling and gardening with Gary, and to frequently visiting their children and grandchildren - often joining them for a variety of fun activities, including holidays and birthday celebrations.

Monica was known for her infectious laugh, her welcoming spirit and her dedication to Jesus Christ. For many years, she was actively involved with the Earlham Church of Christ where she taught and directed Vacation Bible School and J.A.M. (Jesus And Me). Later with the Valley Evangelical Free Church in West Des Moines she was actively involved with her life group and women’s Bible study groups.

Monica is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Gary, daughter Denise (Wallace) Greenlees, Holly Patience, Ryan (Brianan) Patience and Stephen (Flor) Patience and grandchildren, Jonathan, Violet, Autumn, Garrett, Rose, Angus, William, Summer, Elizabeth, Victoria, Julia and Cyrus Greenlees, Hunter, Wesson, Barrett, Kimber, Remi and Cali Patience, Lili Zuazua and Emma Patience. Additionally, she is survived by her sister, Lori (Mitica) Cruceru, brother, Michael (Bernie) Franklin, son-in-law, Steve Nancarrow, plus many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.