Patricia Ann Ackerman

Patricia "Trish" Ackerman, age 54, of Hubbard, IA, passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at her residence.
Patricia "Trish" Ann (Wennekamp) Ackerman was born February 21st, 1971, to Ken and Karen (Fransen) Wennekamp in Sault Ste Marie, MI. Their family moved to Hubbard when she was 13 and was proud to be a lifelong resident. She was baptized in Indianola, confirmed at St Mark's Catholic Church in Iowa Falls and later became a member of the Zion United Church of Christ in Hubbard.
Trish graduated from Hubbard-Radcliffe High School in 1989. She loved being a product of the 80's with big hair, the best music era of our time, gravel travel, close classmates in a small town and being with her family. She showed off her athletic talent in basketball, softball and track. She was an avid Hawkeye fan and enjoyed a rivalry with her Nebraska Wennekamp family. She's up there in heaven cheering, Go Hawks!
She started her working life at their family's Hubbard Variety Store where her dad whistled tunes and helped instill in her a gifted work ethic. She began working at Scenic Manor after High School and there found her gift of caring for people in their last phases of life. She has been a care giver to so many in cleaning homes or helping with their medicine and care. She saw it as her true gift to usher them into heaven through all the trials of our last moments here on earth. Trish also had worked at Dayco for several years until it closed.
Trish loved her family above all else, including her daughter MacKenzie and son Rigby. Or rather Curly and Fred, her loving nicknames for them. She loved her soulmate EZ, Eric Zierke, with all her heart. A favorite day for her would include a kayaking trip down the Iowa river with EZ, her sister Susan and partner David. She would be sure to show you God's gifts in nature: the turtles on the log, dragonflies dancing, and changing colors in the trees above. She might also tell you how and where to steer your boat, as she wasn't shy about offering up opinions. She referred to herself as "Flowergirl" and her Facebook posts often showed pics of beautiful flowers from her garden, a little bee gathering nectar or of her picking up a turtle on the highway and ushering it to safety in a nearby pond. Trish also had a special relationship with Sana and helped her through the challenges during the last years of her life.
Trish was full of joy and a fun sense of humor. She had a zeal for living life to the fullest. She never knew a stranger. Trish could travel 2000 miles, stop at a gas station and run into someone she knew. She loved the golf game and local tournaments with friends. Time away to Gulf Shores Alabama with EZ was her passion. She loved to ocean fish, soak up life on the beach, visit with friends at beach bars and enjoy the sunset. She was rebaptized in the Gulf Waters in 2022. Trish loved to bicycle, the TLS team and memories made on small town Iowa trails. Trish was always up for impromptu fun with her sister, whether it was a bike ride, kayaking, enjoying live music, being on the water, or a good road trip.
Trish helped Kenzie shine her light with the Special Olympics organization. She and EZ would take Kenzie to the Olympic games, guide her in giving speeches to kickoff ceremonies and gain confidence in her abilities. She was so thankful to have found two other moms to love and raise up Kenzie: Liz, her house-mom and Diane aka "Klem", her BFF, partner in hilarious shenanigans and Kenzie's God Mother.
Trish passed away August 28, 2025 and she is now at peace and in heaven. She will never be forgotten for the brightest light she has brought to others, her laugh, her smile and her love.
She is survived by her children, MacKenzie and Rigby; soulmate EZ; parents Ken and Karen Wennekamp; brother Mike (Deanna) Wennekamp; sister Susan Wennekamp; nieces Kennedey "Mae", Peyton, Maya, and Careyna; nephew Tayte Moffet; along with many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents.
Memorials may be directed to the family to be contributed to Special Olympics Iowa.
Casual or beach attire is encouraged.
Trish's favorite quote:
"Never pass up an opportunity"