As an alderman, Roger Patton didn't like to miss a meeting.
In fact, Patton, who served as the city of Waukesha's District 11 alderman since 2010, often attended many meetings that weren't required of him even as his health began to decline over the last year.
Patton died Sunday, Oct. 11, after spending the past month at West Allis Memorial Hospital battling many health issues. He was 79.
"I believe the city is in a better state because of his commitment," Waukesha Common Council President Andy Reiland said at last week's council meeting.
In and out of the council chambers, Patton made his presence felt, Reiland said.
It wasn't surprising that Patton, even while in the hospital, was still following what was taking place at city hall after he stepped down last month as alderman.
And it wasn't surprising that Patton suggested to Mayor Shawn Reilly and Reiland when the two visited with him in the intensive care unit recently that he wanted a seat on a city committee when he was released from the hospital so he could once again help make a difference in Waukesha.
"The city of Waukesha was always close to his mind," Reilly said.
But health issues over the past year limited Patton's mobility and confined him to a wheelchair. He even missed a couple city meetings this summer, a rare occurrence for him.
Daughter's reaction
"In the last couple of months my father's health has gone rapidly downhill — heart failure, infections and other indicators that his body just didn't have anything left in it to fight on," his daughter, Rachel, wrote in an Oct. 10 Facebook post. "No one thing the doctors could really blame it on.
"He was septic and in West Allis Memorial for the last three weeks, in and out of the ICU, but mostly in. (Doctors) seemed to have won the fight against the infection, but his platelets were dropping again. We don't think he will rally again."
Roger Patton, who lived at Avalon Square senior housing in downtown Waukesha, was a Presbyterian minister and retired and licensed real estate broker. He also served as a substitute preacher at First Presbyterian Church of Waukesha.
Roger Patton was born in Iowa and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Dubuque where he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for football and wrestling. He received his bachelor's of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from McCormick Seminary in Chicago. He was ordained in 1960 and served as a pastor of several Presbyterian churches.
He helped start affordable senior housing projects in many cities he lived in and also served on the board of the NAACP in Jamaica, New York, in the 1970s.
Rachel Patton, one of Roger Patton's three adult children, said in the Facebook post she "always looked up to (my dad) for the things he did for the community and the things he believed he put into action in his own life."
Helping the homeless
She noted that while living in New York City years ago Roger Patton was not afraid to provide shelter for the homeless in his own house, and as an alderman in Waukesha he made it a priority to help the homeless.
In the 2014 budget, with the Hebron House of Hospitality in Waukesha seeking extra funds to keep its men's overflow shelter open, Patton wanted the city to provide the necessary funds to the nonprofit.
At the time, $45,000 was being allocated to the local animal shelter, but Roger Patton, who represented constituents in downtown, didn't understand why the city wouldn't do the same for the overflow shelter.
The council ended up approving $16,000 for the homeless shelter a few months later so it could stay open the rest of the winter in 2014.
"He provided a tremendous service to the city of Waukesha," Reilly said. "I'm very sorry to hear of Roger's passing and have great sympathy for his family."
Doing it his way
Despite Roger Patton's declining health, Reilly said Roger Patton was alert when he and Reiland visited him in the hospital six days before his death.
"His eyes were bright, and it was a pleasure talking to him," Reilly said.
Reilly said since Roger Patton couldn't return to a council meeting after resigning Sept. 1, during their hospital visit he and Reiland presented the former alderman with a street sign to recognize his commitment over the years.
Reiland said the sign read "Patton Way" because "we all know Roger did it his way."
Reilly said he was glad he was able to spend some time with his former colleague on the council.
"It makes me happy we went there and provided him with the street sign," Reilly said. "I think he was really appreciative."
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the 2 p.m. service Saturday, Oct. 17, at First Presbyterian Church, 810 N. East Ave., Waukesha. Private interment will be held at Vernon Presbyterian Cemetery.