IRON MOUNTAIN – After 24 years of federal service, Geralyn Patterson of Iron Mountain retired from the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain.

Patterson was born and raised in Wyandotte, Mich. and is the daughter of Ray and Rose Ann DeSana. She graduated from Wyandotte High School in Wyandotte; Northern Michigan University’s licensed practical nurse (LPN) program; and Bay de Noc Community College in 1992 with an associate’s degree of nursing.

She started her VA career on Jan. 22, 1977, at the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center.

Patterson worked in various areas during her tenure at the medical center. As an LPN and then as an RN, she worked in the inpatient general medical surgical ward and the nursing home care unit.

She also held the positions of employee health nurse, in the Warfarin Clinic, and most recently as a home telehealth nurse and community home care coordinator in the medial centers Home and Community Based Care Office. She also worked as a pharmacy tech for 10 years.

“During my 24 years at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center, I have enjoyed caring for the veterans and working with wonderful staff,” said Patterson. “The VA gave me many opportunities to serve veterans and advance my career.”

In 1991, she was awarded the upward mobility program to attend Bay de Noc College to pursue her RN (registered nursing) certification.

She and her husband, Michael, and they have a son, Ryan (Jennifer) Gordon, and daughter Michelle (Brian) Polzien and grandson, Brayden Polzien.

Retirement plans include enjoying time with family and friends, playing golf, gardening and travel