Santa Parade Grand Marshals

CRESCO - When Pat Ferrie found out that she and her husband, Jack, had been selected as Santa Parade grand marshals, her response conveyed her shock:

“Spiff (Slifka) at the Chamber called me, and asked if we were going to be home the day after Thanksgiving. She told us we had been chosen as grand marshals for the parade, and I said, ‘No!’

When her husband returned from playing cards, Pat asked him to call back and confirm the surprising news.

“I called back and they said, yes, it was true, we were at the top of their list, and it was unanimous,” Jack said.

To that end, the public is invited to gather downtown Friday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. to see the Ferries and others in Cresco’s annual Santa Parade.

Jack and Pat Ferrie, both Cresco natives, graduated from Notre Dame High School. They have been married 55 years, residing in Cresco during 54 of those years. They raised their three children in the community.

Following high school graduation, Pat went to nursing school and stayed in Mason City. She became a Registered Nurse (RN) and returned to Cresco.

“I worked for the hospital in Cresco through three name changes: St. Joseph’s, Mercy Hospital of Howard County, and Regional Health Services of Howard County,” Pat said of her 34-year nursing career.

Pat served as assistant director of nursing and OR supervisor for 24 years. She has been involved in the Hospital Auxiliary since its inception, participating in numerous projects, and is an active member of Notre Dame Parish. Pat is also involved with the Red Hat Society.

“Our calendar is full; we keep busy answering the phone, seeing and doing things,” she said.

Jack was born and raised in Cresco, and graduated from Notre Dame High School.

“After that, I enlisted in the Navy, and spent four years there, most of the time aboard a ship,” he said. “When I came out of the service, Pat and I got married about 20 days after my discharge from the military, on July 21, 1962.”

Jack worked for 35 years at todays CUSB Bank, spent close to 20 years on the volunteer fire department, and served on the Mighty Howard County Fair Board for over 20 years.

He also served on the board of Howard Residential Care Facility (now Country Winds Manor), and the Evans Memorial Home Board.

Today, Jack keeps busy driving cars for dealerships across the Midwest. Both Jack and Pat have been members of the Cresco Country Club for many years.

The couple say they enjoy traveling:

“We’ve done extensive traveling in both the United States and Europe,” said Pat. We’ve been overseas eight times; three of those times were to visit grandchildren studying abroad in college; that was fun.”

Jack said, “We’ve been to all but four of the states in the United States. We had a motor home, but sold it about three years ago, so now we are traveling with bus groups and with VIP with the bank. This spring, we are going to go to New Orleans, Mississippi and Memphis.”

Pat said, “We’ve been to Ireland three times; people are so nice and welcoming.”

Jack and Pat enjoy spending time with family: Children Sue Stopperan of Lakeville, Minn.; Jane Gordon of Waterloo and Brian Ferrie of Sister Bay, Wis.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

As the news of their grand marshal honor sinks in, Pat said she and her husband continue to advocate for Cresco.

“We were chosen in 2012 as Citizens of the Year, and I said at that time that Cresco is a great place to raise a family. I still believe that, and feel it’s a good place to live.”