Patricia D. “Pat” Hanlin, of Silvis, IL, passed away peacefully at New Perspective in Silvis, IL on July 10, 2026 at the age of 83. Services will be held on July 19th, 2026 at Van Hoe Funeral Home in East Moline, IL. A visitation will be from 12:00–2:30 pm, immediately followed by a funeral service also at Van Hoe Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held at Short Hills Country Club in East Moline, IL. from 4-6 pm following all services. Private graveside services will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline at a later date.

Pat Sym was born July 23, 1942, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of Alec and Lorraine Sym. After moving to the U.S. at the age of 7 and completing her schooling in North Dakota and being very active in cheerleading, ice Skating and swimming. Pat then went on to complete her higher education at Springfield College in Massachusetts as a Psychology major, where she would meet her future husband Bert Hanlin, while taking a golf class. They both then graduated from Springfield and were handed their diplomas from Martin Luther King.

Pat married Bert Hanlin, August 22, 1964 in Bert’s hometown of Baltimore, MD and this is where she would begin her partnership with Bert and go on to become the most important and accomplished “support staff” to a husband and future family that anyone could ever hope for.

Bert and Pat would begin their journey together by moving to Champaign, Illinois where Bert would earn his Masters degree in Educational Administration, while Pat worked to support their needs and would also give birth to their first child, Brent.

Shortly after living in Champaign, both Pat and Bert moved to Silvis, Illinois and both would accept their first teaching jobs at UT High School in 1965 and would soon after, give birth to their second child, Kami, who would grow up to also be her best friend.

Pat had an extreme love for all of her students and was known for going out of her way to help anyone in need, whether it was a student or a fellow staff member, but especially her family. Pat and Bert had no relatives close by, or the means to go visit them often early in their marriage, so both Pat and Bert considered UT High School as part of their family, otherwise known as the “UT Family”. Never wanting to lose that connection with the “UT Family” after retirement, Pat and Bert would start the UT retiree monthly breakfast in order to keep the relationships strong and that continues on to this day.

Pat would continue on to become the perfect “Coach’s wife” as Bert would say. She would support Bert’s long successful career as a wrestling coach and especially help him elevate the enthusiasm for the sport with the students, by starting and coaching the Wrestlerettes program that was new to the school. It was her dedication to her job, community, and most importantly her family, that Pat would become most recognized for. It was the special relationship that she had with her two grandchildren, Keaton and Kara, that became the two most important things to her in life.

While remaining active in her community, she would become a well known figure at the local swimming pools, where she could always be found with her children and then grandchildren and all of her friends. If you couldn’t see her, just listen for the fun and laughter and just head that way.

Pat’s love for a good time, an occasional drink and a passion for country music, would soon take her life’s journey on many trips to Nashville, TN. It is in Nashville, TN that Pat would quickly become known by many of the local entertainers by her first name because of her passion for having a good time and dancing on many stages, while wearing her “special shirts” that would not be allowed to be worn in public.

Along with the entertainment side of Pat, she could always be found relaxing in the sun and it is her love for the sun that would be part of her many journeys with very special friends, Pete and Linda Davidson to Florida, Texas and Arizona.

Pat’s long battle with the terrible disease of Dementia would eventually take her from this world, but she would be comforted every single day by her devoted husband, Bert and supported by her other family members, but it was Bert that would make sure to show her the same support and love every single day during these difficult times that she had always shown him. Bert and Pat were able to share life’s journey just shy of 63 wonderful years!

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Bert Hanlin; children, Dr. Brent (Tracy) Hanlin, Hampton, IL, and Kami (Scott) Christiansen, Moline, IL; grandchildren, Keaton (Chloe) Christiansen, and Kara Christiansen, Kelin (Stephanie) Soliz, Kelsy (Travis) Hawkins,; great grandchildren, Wesley Christiansen, Tayah and Cashten Soliz, Scarlett, Kylo, and Kobe Hawkins; her sister, Elaine Cook, MT.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to UTHS Booster Club, Alzheimer’s Association, or the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

The family is hoping that you will be able to attend one of the allotted times to help celebrate Pat’s life and you are encouraged to feel free and wear your favorite cowboy hat, or glitzy shirt at the Celebration of Life, which were some of Pat’s favorite attire.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com