Pamela Jean Pate, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on April 12, 2026.
Born on August 18, 1942, in Ottawa, Illinois, Pamela was the daughter of Wilbur Walter and Rose Amy (Jett) Pike. She was raised in Ottawa and graduated from Ottawa Township High School with the Class of 1960.
Pamela married Lenn Ray Pate on October 5, 1963. The couple spent time in California while Lenn served in the United States Marine Corps. They later returned to Ottawa and, in 1972, settled on the Pike family farm where Pamela had been raised.
Pamela was a devoted mother to her children and took great pride in building a life rooted in family, tradition, and care. She loved gardening and flowers, and was especially known for planting an abundance of tomatoes each year to make homemade salsa. She cherished time spent cooking for holidays, decorating, and bringing her family together.
Meals in Pamela’s home were often created straight from her garden, depending on what was in season. She prepared countless fresh salads, zucchini pies, green beans, asparagus, strawberry shortcake, and rhubarb pies for her family, and spent hours freezing sweet corn.
Pamela and her family joined the Ottawa Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1971, beginning a lifelong commitment to her faith. She was an active member and taught children’s Sabbath School for 22 years.
She is survived by her children, Jason (Melissa) Pate, Jerrett (Olivia) Pate, and Janee (Caleb) Johnson; her grandchildren, Olivia (Jason) Kirby, Chloe, Sofia, Cameron, Collin, Preston, Jesse, and Wesley; her great-grandchild, Otis, with one more great-grandchild on the way; as well as her brother, Wayne (Dawn) Pike; her sisters, Ginny (Allen) Wawak and Carolyn (Ronald) Battles, and brother-in-law, Gary (Linda) Pate. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur Walter and Rose Amy (Jett) Pike; her husband, Lenn Ray Pate; and her brother-in-law, Allen Wawak.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Ottawa Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1429 Catherine St, Ottawa, IL 61350, with funeral services immediately following. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
A luncheon will follow at Pine Hills Golf Club, 1665 N 2501st Rd, Ottawa, IL 61350.
Private burial services will be held the following day at Oakwood Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be directed to PADS of Ottawa. Donations can be made online at: https://ivpads.com/donate/
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433.