Senator Pat Ward View All Years

PAT WARD

Pat Ward was born on June 17, 1957, in Clinton, Missouri, to Tom and Wilma Sperry. She passed away on October 15, 2012, at the age of 55. She is survived by her husband, John Ward; daughter, Chelsea Reynolds; son, Ethan Reynolds; stepdaughter, Wendy Ward; and stepson, Tom Ward. She is also survived by her father, Tom Sperry; her sister, Peggy Bolinger; her brother, Sean Sperry; and several nieces and nephews.

Ward was raised on a farm near California, Missouri. She graduated from California High School in 1975. She attended Central Missouri State University, where she received her B.S. degree in business and legal studies. After college, she worked as director of public and government relations for the Soyland Power Cooperative in Decatur, Illinois. In 1997, Ward began work with the Iowa Senate Republican caucus staff at the Capitol building and served as the caucus staff director from 2001—2004.

In February 2004, Ward won a special election to represent Iowa Senate District 30, and she was re-elected in 2008. She served as an assistant leader for the Iowa Senate Republicans and was the ranking member of the Senate Labor and Business Relations Committee. She served on the Capitol Planning Commission and the Iowa Workforce Development Board. She was known as a skilled legislator with a keen understanding of business issues. Her knowledge gained her the respect and admiration of many of the region’s powerful business leaders. She was a legislator who stood up for what she believed in and was willing to work across party lines on behalf of her constituents. She was known as a caring and compassionate person.

In addition to her legislative and political work, Ward was active in her community. While living in Illinois, she served as chair of the Central Illinois American Business Women’s Association and the International Association of Business Communicators. She was a sustaining member of Junior League of Des Moines, a member of the Community Advisory Education Board of West Des Moines, a member of Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, and an active volunteer in her children’s schools.

Ward was a Polk County Republican. She served in the Iowa Senate from 2004 until 2012, during the 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd, and 84th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Pat Ward, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of her service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of her family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

MATT MCCOY

CHARLES SCHNEIDER

BRAD ZAUN

Committee