Patrick Henry Sickafus

Patrick H. Sickafus, 84, of Upper Tulpehocken Township, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Lebanon County, he was the son of the late Louis and Vira Sickafus. He graduated from Bethel High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Kutztown University.

Known to many as country entertainer Pat Garrett, he was easily recognized by his ever-present cowboy hat. After performing at Jamboree in the Hills in Wheeling, West Virginia, he was inspired to build the Pat Garrett Amphitheater. From 1994 to 2005, his little gem of a music venue brought country legends—including Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, George Jones, and Johnny Cash—to Strausstown.

His entrepreneurial spirit had taken root years earlier with the founding of Sickafus Sheepskins, a retail and wholesale business that began with just three sheepskins displayed on the counter of his gas station. He sold all three to a group of women whose tire he had just changed in the freezing snow. “A lightbulb went on over my head,” he recalled. From that moment on, sheepskins became his business.

A prolific songwriter and powerful singer with a rich baritone voice, Pat recorded several albums and music videos. His enduring dream was to have a hit record, and he achieved wide-spread recognition with songs including “If You Love America,” “Sexy Ol Lady,” “Jumpin’ John,” “Moose Shootin’ Mama,” “Bad Woman”, and “I’m Gonna Stand.” Though his pursuit of that dream took him to Nashville and New York City many times, Pennsylvania remained his home. He paid tribute to the place he loved in his heartfelt ballad, “In the Blue Mountains.”

Pat was a hardworking man with a big heart and big dreams, yet he found his greatest happiness in a simple life. He loved being home with his wife of 30 years in the house he had helped build more than 50 years earlier. He continued working seven days a week at his Sheepskin Shop and writing songs whenever inspiration struck.

His music, generosity, and spirit touched countless lives. His legacy lives on in his songs, in the dreams he fulfilled and helped others realize, and in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Bean Funeral Home, 129 East Lancaster Avenue, Shillington, on Monday, October 5, 2026 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and Tuesday from 9:00am to 10:00am. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 10:00 am. Father John Gibbons will officiate. Interment will follow at Epler’s Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at www.beanfuneralhomes.com