One from the Heart

Patsy Hartung

It's not how old you are, it's how young you feel.

"I'm 70, but I don't feel it," says Patsy. "I'm healthy, thank heavens, and I always stay busy with something. I'm into gardening and planting flowers, I do volunteer work for hospice and I read a lot."

Patsy has lived in Sedalia, Missouri with her husband Jake for the last 10 years after spending most of her life in Iowa.

"I'm a Midwestern gal all the way!" she says. "Sedalia is a wonderful place to live."

Patsy and Jake have seven children and nineteen grandchildren combined from previous marriages. They don't get to see them as often as they would like, but make the most of it when they do.

"I visit them and they travel here individually once a year, but usually the only time we get together is at Christmas because they're scattered all over. Since it's just my husband and me now, I try to keep it as simple as I can for the two of us. Basically, I make up my own recipes - I take a little bit from different recipes and combine them with things we like. We eat lighter when the warm weather comes - a lot of fish and pork and not so many soups.

"The only time I cook for a big gathering is at Christmas, when my family is here. Three years ago, I gave each of my daughters a recipe box with some of my favorite recipes. I enjoy passing them along."

Something else Patsy enjoys is traveling. "My sister Judy and I travel quite a bit together. We travel with a group from our bank called Kincaid Tours. It's all of us older folks. We're going to the Black Hills in August. Last year, we went with our group to Vermont. Then, of course, I will visit my daughter in Milwaukee and my other daughter in Dallas.

"I'm just a normal person. I've had a good life. I love people. It's just pretty common stuff," says Patsy with heartfelt sincerity. "I've been very fortunate."

Stories:
Kathy Hartley | John Hearty | Patsy Hartung | Stacey Whiseheart

vol3 issue4, 2008

One from the Heart

Patsy Hartung