Patrick Montgomery Obituary

Durango resident Patrick Joseph Montgomery died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango. He was 73.

Mr. Montgomery was one of a set of twins born to Phil and Cathrine (Hogansen) Montgomery on July 18, 1938, in Sioux City, Iowa. He grew up and attended schools there and joined the Army National Guard in 1955, before graduating from Bishop Heelan High School in 1956.

After high school, Mr. Montgomery attended San Diego State University for two years and then enlisted in active duty with the Army in 1962. The next year, he attended Officer's Candidate School and graduated as a second lieutenant in the infantry. His military career took him to numerous duty stations, including South Korea, Vietnam and Germany. He retired from the Army in 1987 with the rank of colonel.

His son, Ryan Patrick Montgomery, honored his father's military career by serving in the Army.

In 1973, he married Irmi Weikard in Missouri. The marriage ended in divorce after 35 years.

Mr. Montgomery worked in government civil service from 1988 to 2003, at Fort Ritchie and Fort Dietrick in Maryland as well as at the Pentagon.

In 2010, he moved from Hagerstown, Md., to Durango to be near his son.

He enjoyed reading, traveling the world, movies, shooting and dogs.

Mr. Montgomery is survived by his son, Ryan Patrick Montgomery, of Durango; brother, Michael Montgomery, of Sioux City; sisters Bobbie Montgomery and Charlene Montgomery, both of San Diego; and stepfather, Charles Walker, of San Diego.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Memorial contributions may be sent to La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 South Camino del Rio, Durango, CO 81303; or Friends of the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., Durango, CO 81301.