Pat Hinshaw, 83, of Mesa passed away peacefully at his home on January 13, 2019 with his family by his side. He was born on November 11, 1935 in Del Norte Colorado. He moved to Mesa with his parents in 1952. He was a Mesa High graduate and that is where he met the love of his life, Sue Spitler. They were married in 1955 and spent 61 years together. He joined the Mesa Police Department in 1959 and retired as a lieutenant in 1984. In his retirement he enjoyed working part-time with an electrician, fishing, spending time at his cabin near Christopher Creek, and shooting.
He was a member of SASS-Single Action Shooters Society; his alias was “Wompass Cat”. Pat was also passionately involved in the Mesa Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9. A member for almost 60 years, he rarely missed a meeting. His latest hobby was collecting O gauge model trains; he was in the midst of building a large train city at the time of his passing.
Pat is survived by his daughters Patti Olson and Paula Hinshaw (Wendy), his grandsons Stuart Olson, Jakob Perkins, and Patrick J. Hinshaw. He also had 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Irene, his daughter Kitten, and his wife Sue.
Services will be at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa. Visitation Friday, January 18th from 5:30-7:30 and graveside service Saturday at 2:00. As per his wishes, an Irish wake to follow from 3:30-6:30 at the Mesa FOP Lodge 1452 E. Main Street, Mesa. Pat loved his cowboy wear, so casual attire – especially jeans are encouraged. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of your favorite children’s or animal charities. He was especially fond of Sunshine Acres in Mesa and the Arizona Humane Society.
http://www.sunshineacres.org/invest/tax-credit-donation/
http://Arizona Humane Society
I had the great privilege of working with Pat from 1967 to 1974, when I was a brand-new, fresh-out-of-college reporter for The Mesa Tribune (back when it was a daily newspaper). I was covering the police & fire beat for the first time, and I had a lot to learn. Pat helped me understand what police work was all about, and instilled in me a lasting respect for the men and women who choose a career in law enforcement.
When I came to work for the City of Mesa in 1976, I again got to work with Pat in my role as the City’s public information officer, assisting all City departments with media/public relations and internal communications.
Pat was a great storyteller, and regaled me with detailed accounts of his and others’ exploits on duty, filled with lots of insights into the workings of a police officer’s mind and heart.
I express my sincere sympathy to his family, and wish them peace and comfort at this sad time.
Tanya Collins
I only recently met Pat but we spent many hours discussing our lives and telling stories. We found the two of us had a great deal in common.
My deepest sympathies to your family and friends.
Pat, you’ll be truly missed, we had so much more to talk about but I understand you had to go. God bless Sir.