Jay Dee Mendenhall

Jay Dee Mendenhall, the son of Fred Joseph and Augusta Migonette (Andersen) Mendenhall, was born April 5, 1928, in Tulare, California and died February 8, 2020, at the Pioneer Park Care Center in Lone Tree, Iowa at the age of 91 years, 10 months, and 3 days.
Jay was baptized at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. He attended the Audubon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1946. While in high school, Jay operated a sign-painting company with classmate Bill Fries, who would later go on to become recording artist C.W. McCall. Jay then studied at the University of Iowa. He continued his education at motion picture school in Monmouth, New Jersey, alongside Fries, while they were in the Army National Guard. Jay later served as an Army National Guard photographer.
On October 9, 1960, he was united in marriage to Peggy Anne Brooks at the United Methodist Church in Burlington, Iowa. They were blessed with three children Jay Dee, II, Heidi, and Ned. They lived in Audubon where Jay was employed as the Assistant County Engineer for the Audubon County Secondary Roads Department. He held this position for over 43 years until he retired in 1993. During retirement Jay, enjoyed playing golf, being active in the Audubon community, and having coffee with his group of friends at Audubon restaurants. Jay and Peggy lived in Audubon until they moved to the Iowa City area in 2016, due to their failing health, to be closer to family members.
Jay was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. He served as a Deacon and an Elder and on many committees. He was a member of the Audubon Lions Club and served as President and later received the Melvin Jones Award for outstanding service. Jay was a member of the Audubon City Council for several years before being elected Mayor, and he served in that capacity for over 19 ½ years. He was a member of the Audubon County Memorial Hospital Board and was Chairman for several years. Jay was a member of the Audubon Veritas Lodge #392 A.F. and A.M. He was on the Region XII Council of Governments for many years. He received the Audubon Citizen of the Year Award in 2002. Jay and Peggy were the King and Queen of the Audubon Sesquicentennial. Jay and Peggy were avid Iowa Hawkeye fans and loved to spend many an afternoon sitting in the bleachers of Kinnick Stadium cheering for their beloved Hawkeyes.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother Charles Mendenhall; brothers-in-law and his sisters-in-law Don and Margie Brooks and Barb and Lucian “Mac” McCafferty.
Survivors include his wife Peggy Mendenhall of Lone Tree, Iowa; his children Jay Dee, II (Diana) Mendenhall of Iowa City, Iowa, Heidi (Steve) Pollard of Marshall, Missouri, and Ned (Johnie McMahon) Mendenhall of Iowa City, Iowa; his grandchildren Katelyn Mendenhall of Taft, California, Hayli Schmitz (Hank Thorpe) of The Colony, Texas, Hannah Schmitz and wife Megan of Vacaville, California, Joseph Bowman and wife Mackenzie and their son J.J. Bowman, all of Blue Springs, Missouri, Nick Pollard and wife Raeann of Jefferson City, Missouri, and Joseph Pollard of Slater, Missouri; his sister Patricia and husband David Sorensen of Atlantic, Iowa; his sister-in-law Pauline Mendenhall of Albuquerque, New Mexico; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kelley Pedersen on Monday, February 24, 2020, at 11:00 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa, followed by a luncheon at the church. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be members of the Audubon Lions Club. The family will meet with friends Monday morning, February 24, 2020, from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. As an expression of sympathy memorials may be made to the Audubon Lions Club, Audubon First Presbyterian Church, or the charity of their choice.