May 6, 1945 — March 21, 2024
John Ernest “Johnny Cakes, Daddy Cakes, Daddycakesiepoohskirooskis, Gramps” Pattee passed away at Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper on March 21st, 2024. In the days leading up to his passing he was surrounded by the love of his family.
John was born was born on May 6, 1945, in Grand Junction, Colorado, to Elaine (Rector) and John Pattee. John spent his early childhood with his parents and younger sister Josie on Strawberry Creek in Rio Blanco County Colorado. John and Josie’s parents passed by the time John was 15. This created an unbreakable bond between John and Josie. They had each other’s loyalty and love their whole lives.
John graduated from Meeker High School in 1964. John played basketball, football and he was a lifeguard. His chiseled features, charm and sense of humor made him very likable throughout his life. After high school he went to mechanic’s school in Denver and to welding college. He worked construction, he worked off-shore in California. He drilled for Loffland, Signal, H&P, Delta, Manning and Nabors. He received “Master Driller” status, He worked on two 40-kiloton nuclear test projects.
In 1973 John married Sandee (Atkinson) they had two daughters, Tanny and Dandee. John and Sandee lived all over Wyoming as John worked for the oil field. Eventually the family settled in Lander.
John and Sandee were divorced in the early 1980s and 20 years later they rekindled the flame. John landed in Hanna, Wyoming, where he spent the majority of his life. He owned and operated Tandan Sanitation. He could be seen driving his enormous front loader, the “Rainbow Truck” all over Carbon County. He was the talk of the town on more than one occasion, but notably when the tines of his truck took down an electrical wire at the Hanna Rec Center. That earned him a lot of teasing during senior center lunch! What many people did not know was that John showed his loyalty for the people of Hanna by keeping his rates affordable, and in many cases not charging for his services at all. The oil field and trash route took John over country that was vast and beautiful. He deeply loved Wyoming’s landscape.
John is survived by his “twin” sister, Josie Pattee. His daughters Tanny and Dandee Pattee, granddaughter Alexandria Maben (Damarion Kelly), grandson and spitting image Vince Vlcan, son-in-law Jason Vlcan, great-granddaughters Zarah and Korah Kelly, nephews Bent and Sean Crawford, niece Didi Atkinson, many more nieces and nephews and his morning-coffee-at-the-Virginian friends.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father Elaine (Rector) and John Percy Pattee. His beloved nephew Clint Valentine, niece Evon Tarbet, his ex-wife turned life partner Sandee Pattee, sister Laura Maybury, three shitzus and two rambunctious ill-mannered bull dogs, Tuffy and Turbo.
Celebration of life services will be held in Meeker, Colorado, at a date to be determined.
Memorial donations can be made to Central Wyoming Hospice.
The loss of John blows an icy wind across our hearts. It is as enormous, vast and mysterious as the landscape he so dearly loved. We know in all his grandeur, his spirit is flying high with the eagles watching over those who loved him.
