Batavia Church to Hold Memorial Service For Fallen Soldier

Those who want to pay their respects to a local soldier that died in Afghanistan can do so in Batavia next week.

Visitation for Spc. Christopher Patterson will be held on Fri., Jan. 20 at , 950 Hart Road, Batavia. The visitation will be held in the church’s sanctuary from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Patterson’s parents, Robert and Mary, brother Carl and more family members will be there to receive guests on Friday.

Patterson’s memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sat., Jan. 21, in the church’s Family Life Center.

Patterson, 20, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. An improvised explosive device, or roadside bomb, went off under their vehicle, according to the Indiana National Guard.

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Patterson was and a student at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He was also a member of the Indiana National Guard, the Valparaiso-based 713th Engineer Company.

Patterson’s life has touched many in the Midwest and across the county.

“We’re anticipating a huge crowd,” said Ron Weidler, senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran.

Weidler was told that Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels plans to attend the service, as well as officials from Valparaiso University and the Indiana National Guard.

The Family Life Center can seat up to 700 people.

The church plans to have a live feed going into the sanctuary for overflow, Weidler said.

Following the services, there will be a cremation for Patterson. Interment services will be private.

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To read a grade-school teacher’s remembrances of Patterson, .

To read our initial report on Patterson, .