Natalie L. Patula

Natalie L. Patula, age 79, of Dekorra, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Sunday, May 1, 2022.

 Natalie was born on October 28, 1942, in Oak Park, Illinois (native to Cicero, IL) the daughter of Daniel and Lillian (Laub) Keizer.  Natalie married the love of her life, William “Bill” Havelka, and together they had three beautiful children, James, Victoria, and Michael. Years after his passing, she married John “Jack” Patula.   Natalie was a lover of gardening, avid bird watcher, and enjoyed caring for others and animals. Some of her fondest times were spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. No matter who you were she would always end each conversation, with a God Bless you and it was never goodbye, always a see you later.  Natalie loved to share her vast wealth in knowledge of plants, animals, and cooking. Food was her love language! She loved to cook and feed everyone. Over the years Natalie touched many lives (both human and animals alike) with her generous heart, by opening her home to anyone and anything that crossed her path and needed love. 

She is survived by son, Michael (Shelly) Havelka; granddaughters, Katrina (Robert) Kaul and Nicole (Kyle) Hammon; great grandchildren, Ella, William, Abigail and Nora Kaul and August Hammon; cousin, Dan Keizer; stepfamily, Avie (John) Havelka Johnson, Eric Liabl, John (Erin) Scherbert and family, Jamie (Jason) Zacharias and family, and many, many more hearts that she loved as her own. 
She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Elizabeth Keizer, husbands, William "Bill" Havelka and John "Jack" Patula, and children, James and Victoria Havelka. 

A celebration of Natalie's life will be from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2022, at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.

Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.