Dear Chism Family,
I’ve thought of Pat as my best friend for many years. I know that I’m not the only one that has felt that way, as Pat was ‘Best Friend’ to many people.
My fondest memories of Pat was his frequent stops by my shop for a cup of coffee and a long ‘talk’ session. I’m an antsy guy, not prone to long talks, but Pat was the one guy I was always willing to slow down and spend time with talking.
I was also amazed what adventures I could talk Pat into doing. Backpacking, rockclimbing, caving; he was seemingly fearless. He went with me on many backpack trips with my brothers, and we considered him an honorary Swift brother. Since he started coming on yearly backpacks with guys in the church, the numbers going went from 3 to 15! Everyone wanted to go because Pat was going.
From attending Lamb’s Player shows, last minute trips to see a movie on Friday nite, to Alaska Cruises; Janet and I always loved going out with Pat and Edna.
Mostly Pat was a friend who was experiencing the same troubles and joys of life, and sharing them with Pat made my life better.
I’ll sorely miss you Pat, thanks for your brotherly friendship thru the years. Thanks for showing me how to live, and how to die. I’m expecting you to have some incredible adventures cooked up in heaven for us when we all meet again.
Edna Mae and family; we consider you all a part of our family, and we’ll be thinking and praying for you as you grieve in your loss of Pat.
Bob Swift

Dearest Edna Mae, Sarah, Amy, MIchael, Matt and Pat’s extended family,
The memorial service was so PAT! He was so proud of you kids and you did him proud.
Jim and I wanted to share the following thoughts during the service, but time was short:

A few weeks before Pat went home we were talking about heaven and he mentioned that he wondered what his job in heaven would be. That struck me as profound, for only Pat would think of what he could do for the Lord in heaven, he was a man of worship. I suggested that his job would be Chief Court Jester and we laughed

PAT’S WORK
Walking the hill toward heaven today,
heading for the place of His holiness
I stopped by the Still Waters and took a sip
I tasted goodness,
sweet honey-dripping
warm waffle-syrup
goodness.

The angels who carried me here,
gave me new clothes
Brilliant white Painter’s coveralls, of course,
Righteousness personified.
That lifted my soul higher
oh so much higher
than it had ever been lifted before.

The white painter’s hat the angels put on my head,
immediately cleared my curse-tainted thinking.
All that sin had consumed of me was restored.
And I wanted nothing more,
nothing more,
than to be in the presence of the Lord.

Instantly we stood in the throne room of the King
And I noticed it didn’t need painting.
What will I do for work, no painting to done?
The Lord smiled, he knew my heart.
I took the painter’s hat from my head
and cast it at his feet
and worshiped
worshiped
worshiped
as never before. 

d.edwards 7/3/06

You better call us if you need anything...ANYTHING!!!

Looking Toward Heaven,
Jim & Debi Edwards

we will all miss Pat very much! Pat and I shared something more then just friends. He was my BEST friend. Right before my grandma passed last year a good friend told me this: We can pray and God can heal them our way and they can be with us for how ever many more years and die some other way or we can pray and he can heal the his way and they can have glorified bodies for eternity! I will never have another friend like Pat! All my love to the family! Megan

To Pat’s family and Mike,

I did make it to Pat’s reception but after signing the reception book and receiving the pamphlet with the photograph of Pat with his family. I simply did not know being there was going to be so difficult for me, I really thought I could handle it but I couldn’t. I’m sorry if I let anyone down by not staying. I knew if anyone would understand my actions, it would be Pat. He was such a great person to be around. We both shared stories about our families with each other the years, which made it always seem that some how I was included as an extended family member. Then there were always the jokes we shared telling on the jobsites. Most of all it was Pat’s warm smile and his open personality that I always looked forward to seeing. Yet beyond all of the jokes and smiles was his firm belief in Christ. This was a tropic we never spoke about. Pat simply as some would say, “Walked the walk�?.  This faith in Christ is an attribute that he and his brother Mike shared and all who had the opportunity to have meant Pat was always included in it.

It’s hard to even write this letter without crying. I guess I have to say goodbye to Pat sometime but Wednesday nor today will be that time.

God bless all,

John Engen

God has healed our friend.

We will miss Pat very much but will still enjoy seeing him for many years through his family. Karen and I thank God for having had our precious share of Pat’s attention over the many years. All quality time.

One of the greatest gifts a dad can give his children is to love their mother and you kids got a great one here.  ( I don’t think it was all just fear of Edna’s wrath that kept Pat in line.)

We will keep you all in our prayers.

Much love,
Tom & Karen

Pat

(With apologies to James Whitcomb Riley….or maybe Dr. Seuss)

He give us guidance here on earth regardin’ God and man –
Had me memorizin’ scripture ‘luminatin’ God’s great plan.

Cain’t say I ‘member ever nit Pat’s teachin’ ever ‘spected
But I treasure ever’ moment and give praise Christ’s resurrected! 

Pat got a lead on us confimin’ God’s merciful a ‘bidance –
So when I catch him on the flip side - I spect’s his ’thereal guidance. 

You can betcher rusty treasure that he’ll know his way around.
So how to spot out Pat when it’s glory you’re a bound?

Cain’t say I’ll know what spectra’l light is flowin’ from his heav’ly robe –
But I’ll know ‘em by his boomin’ laugh - twinklin’ eye - and cup o’ joe.

His coffee klatch’ll be like this ‘en…
A multitude of heav’ly folk – give ‘er take a guest. 
Ever single one’ll know that Pat likes ‘em the best.
(An’ ever single one of us is rightest as the rest)

Conversin’ starts in mornin’ - gainin’ steam at half past noon
(In his paw a cup o’ mud - like ‘a which could stand a spoon).

Don’ spect his wearin’ out when it’s night that starts a fallin’
Coolin’ of an evenin’ as we all know is Pat’s favrit time fer callin’.

Itsa fact now it’s the ladies that’s Pat’s first choice fer conversatin’
His ol’ buddies duly snubbed is feelin’ sef righteous consternatin’

They’s a chanced to ketch his ‘tention tho’ if you ‘quire his s’gestions
He’ll turn right up, sit ‘er down, and you’ll soon fergetcher questions.

They’s a ‘ternity of time in heav’n for Pat to bend jer saint’ly ear
Heck, he can squeeze in 20 sit downs in somethin’ like a year. 

Pat’s legacy on terra firma is a fete well worth a braggin’ –
Edner Mae and family – favrit point o’ topic - when his tongue commence’d to waggin’. 

Well - I ain’t never been mov’d to prose afore, hope I won’t agin –
But when you love a man like Chism yer muse’ll rise within –
AND I guarandamteeyou!—this ain’t the last time that Pat’ll make us grin.

Sorry, for your loss, we would like to take this moment to share with you are dear symphathy. We will miss Pat and all the great things that he taught me.  He will always be in our thoughts.

Edna and the family,

Words cannot fully express how we feel about Pat’s passing.  We truly feel a loss, a big one.  However, we will be seeing him again and that is a great comfort to all of us.  We know that Pat loved you dearly.  We hope that you know you are loved so much by many of us.  Pat had given himself freely to serve others and his life was a testimony to many.  What a legacy he left behind of who God was in his life and of those who love Him.

Dear Mike & Family,

We are sorry to hear of the loss of Pat.  I wish I could have seen or talked to him again since we moved to Iowa.  He was always such an enjoyable person to be around.  Pat was a role model for me all of the years I knew him, not just in his craftsmanship, but even more in his Christian character.  He always had such an enjoyable light heart.  May God comfort all of you during this time, as we know with certainty that Pat is now comforted in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

With love,

Jim & Carolyn

I send my love to the Chism family and friends. I pray that God blesses you all with good health and prosperity. I didn’t know Pat personally but his emails were forwarded to me by my sister Suzanne at my request and Pat’s courage and love for his family will always be in my heart.

“Let Love Be Your Greatest Aim”

With lots of love, Paul Bunuan

Dear Chism family,

I have not had the opportunity to meet any of the family but through my friend Suzanne Bunuan I have had the blessing of following the past few months of Pat’s life.

I was blessed to read his letters and to see his love for our Lord, his family, and life.  I am sure you all with have a void in your life and hearts, but I pray that you also will remember the wonderful person he was and that will bring joy to your hearts to help ease the pain.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and such a grateful heart for all those who helped him and his family.  As a church family, they have done an outstanding job coming along side of a family and pitching in no matter what the task.  I can tell he was loved by many.

Please accept my deep sympathy for your loss.

God Bless You,
Jeanette Joseph

Just finished reading Pat’s obituary in today’s paper 16 July 06.

It was not our privilege to know Pat very well, but receiving his up beat e-mails in the process of his illness was a blessing to us.  This was the kind of love for his family and Christ our Lord, that needs sharing.  He did that in his own specfial way.  No one could express his love for Jesus like he did during those trying days unless he had a deep and rich experience with his Lord.

There are exceeding great and precious promises in God’s Word, which we are sure you are clinging to and claiming in your time of grief.

His love and ours,

Bob and Mattie Chism

It was not our privilege to know Pat very well, but receiving his up beat e-mails in the process of his illness was a blessing to us. This was the kind of love for his family and Christ our Lord, that needs sharing. He did that in his own specfial way. No one could express his love for Jesus like he did during those trying days unless he had a deep and rich experience with his Lord.

There are exceeding great and precious promises in God’s Word, which we are sure you are clinging to and claiming in your time of grief.

His love and ours,

Bob and Mattie Chism
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