Obituary of Patrick William Lootens

Patrick William Lootens passed, peacefully, on November 12, 2023, surrounded by family who cherished him. He was born to John and Patricia Lootens on February 4, 1971, and it was realized from birth that he was a child with special needs who would require custodial care, thereafter.  He fell within the embrace of his loved ones as the 12th of thirteen children where he enjoyed membership in the communities of Homedale and Marsing as one of the Lootens kids.  Even as his particular needs were being met, he was fully integrated with activities of daily life on a farm, "working" alongside his brothers as his abilities enabled, content to be part of the team. 

Completely uninhibited, Patrick lent "voice to the choir" at St. Hubert's Catholic Church in Homedale, took part in civic events, celebrated holidays with gusto and joined in all escapades of the great outdoors as "just one of the guys".  In lieu of public school, he attended COSSA, which was designed to meet the needs of children with developmental challenges, and there he earned a reputation for his comic antics.  Patrick entertained himself by entertaining others: he was in his element when he was "center stage" at any given event, in pantomime: signing, dancing and "acting out" to a captive audience.

The 21st Century brought dramatic change for Patrick, with the passing of his mother, Patricia Lootens.  He came to be at hearth-and-home with his sister and her husband, Melanie and Dan Larsen. With farm life as their foundation, Dan took a teaching position in agriculture before accepting an opportunity with USDA in soil conservation, which launched a great adventure for a "Grand Tour the West '' from the Big Sky of Wyoming-to-the shores of Payette Lake-to-the foothills of the Sierra Nevada-to the evergreen forests of the Kitsap Peninsula.  Eventually, Patrick's health issues required assisted living arrangements, whereafter he came to reside under the auspices of Ambitions of Idaho in a supervised home setting, where he felt comfortable and secure, with every weekend and holidays in the presence of family.

We are saddened by his passing but we take comfort knowing that he is now in the embrace of his parents, John and Patricia, his sister, Melanie, and his brothers Christopher, Mike, and Kevin.  He is survived by his siblings Jack/Margo, Dan, Paula, Cheryl/Joe, Steve/Rose, Mark/Cindy, Jo, Kelly/Niki, Phil/Cheryl, Donna, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  We, the Lootens Family, would like to take this moment to thank all of Patrick's caregivers and providers at Ambitions of Idaho and St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Nampa for attending to him in his times of need.

A Rosary service is scheduled on Monday December 4th, 2023, 7:00 PM at Flahiff Funeral Chapel.  Address:  624 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell, ID 83605.  A graveside service is planned on Tuesday, December 5th at Homedale/Marsing Cemetery at 1:00 PM.  Fr. Oscar Jaramillo will will be officiating.  There will be a gathering meal at the Homedale Basque Center at 2:00 PM, following the graveside service. 

Patrick achieved what we so often strive for; he lived in the present moment.  He didn't worry about the past nor did he fret about the future.  These words from the Sermon on the Mount were written upon the tablets of his heart: "Consider the lilies of the field; how they grow.  They neither toil nor do they spin!"