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A Byron man was among the 10 U.S. Marines killed by a roadside bomb attack Thursday in Iraq.
Lance Cpl. Andrew Grant Patten, 19, was killed in Fallujah, Iraq. Born June 1, 1986, in Rockford, the son of Alan G. Patten and Gayle Patten-Naschansky, Patten was a lifelong Byron resident before joining the Marine Corp in August 2004.

He graduated from Byron High School in May 2004. According to obituary information from Fred C. Olson Funeral Chapels Ltd., Patten’s family said he had a deep and abiding faith in God and was very active in the Maywood Evangelical Free Church youth group. He enjoyed snow camping, rock climbing, four-wheeling and anything adventurous.
Patten, who was known as “Andy” among his friends and family, was last stationed at TwentyninePalms based in California and was deployed to Iraq on July 4, 2005. He leaves many special friends, especially good friends Eddie and Josh Engelert and Matt Nyberg. Survivors include parents, Alan (fiancée, Diane Kerr) Patten and Gayle (Victor) Naschansky, sister, Allison Patten; grandparents, Richard and Dorothea Seaman. Patten was preceded in death by maternal grandparents Ray and Helen Drake and aunt Donna Nelson, all of Byron.
The visitation and funeral will be held at an as-yet-undetermined date at Maywood Evangelical Free Church, with the Rev. Scott Nesse officiating. Arrangements will be handled by Fred C. Olson Funeral Chapels Ltd., East Chapel, 1001 Second Ave.