Judith "Judy" Elaine Deist

Judith Elaine (Andersen) Deist, daughter of Marvin and Elaine (Schnack) Andersen, was born August 22, 1946 in Harlan, Iowa. Judy passed away peacefully at the Audubon Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa, listening to country music on June 18, 2020 at the age of 73 years, 9 months, and 26 days.

Judy was baptized at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa and confirmed at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Iowa. She attended country school Fairview #5 until age 10, then attended grade school in Kirkman, Iowa. She attended Jr. High and High School in Irwin, Iowa, graduating with the High School Class of 1964. After high school, she worked at the Harlan Bakery; her favorite donut was a bismark. In the summer of 1964, Judy met the love her life, Duane, at a carnival in Irwin.

On August 14, 1965, Judith “Judy” Elaine was united in marriage to Duane Dallas Deist at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Iowa. Judy and Duane were blessed with six children: Lynette, Shari, Kenneth, Steven, Richard, and Tamie. She was a homemaker and loved raising her kids and helping Duane around the farm.

Judy and Duane farmed north of Audubon, Iowa, where they raised cattle, hogs, chickens, corn, and soybeans. In 1998, they started D&J Supply, and she loved helping in the office doing bookwork and answering the phone. She treasured being in the garden and watering her flowers. During the busy seasons on the farm, she enjoyed going with her mother-in-law Elsie to deliver lunches in the field during planting season, putting up hay, and harvesting the crops.

Judy also loved cooking and baking. Her favorite meal to make was dried beef and gravy on toast (aka Shit on a Shingle) and homemade vanilla pudding and was famous for her lemon and raspberry jelly rolls. She really enjoyed her family, cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and especially loved holding the little ones. Judy was a member of St John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. She lived on the farm until February 2020, when she went to the Friendship Home in Audubon due to declining health.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Elaine Andersen; her sister, Pat and husband Tom Custer; her in-laws, Art and Elsie Deist; and her nephews, Todd Custer and Brett Andersen.

Survivors include her husband, Duane Deist of Audubon; her children: Lynette and husband Raymond Gladman of Villisca, Iowa; Shari and husband Jim Lewis and Kenny Deist, all of Audubon; Steven and wife Mary Deist of Exira, Iowa; Richard Deist and special friend Tara Hansen, both of Audubon; and Tamie and husband Zach Fahn of Kimballton, Iowa; her grandchildren: Bo and wife Amanda Gladman of Shambaugh, Iowa; Adam and wife Ragen Gladman of Stanton, Iowa; MaKayla Gladman of Villisca and friend Drew Cottrill of Albany, Missouri; Taylor and husband Caleb Hanson of Audubon; Dylan Lewis of Audubon and friend MacKenzie Felt of Adel, Iowa; and Wyatt, Cole and Harlee Fahn, all of Kimballton, Iowa; her great-grandchildren: Parker Gladman and Baby Gladman (due November 2020); seven step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; her siblings: Margaret and husband Dennis Backhaus of Westside, Iowa; Darlene and husband Tom West of Kimballton; Ed and wife Vickie Andersen of Kirkman, Iowa; and Joyce and husband Merlene Ostebee of Audubon; her brother-in-law, Douglas Deist of Glenwood, Iowa; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon, June 21, 2020, from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Gordon Buchholtz on Monday, June 22, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Honorary casket bearers will be Parker Gladman, Joshua Deist, and Baby Gladman (due November 2020). Casket bearers will be Bo Gladman, Adam Gladman, MaKayla Gladman, Taylor Hanson, Dylan Lewis, Wyatt Fahn, Cole Fahn, and Harlee Fahn. The family prefers gifts in memoriam to the Friendship Home, 714 North Division Street, Audubon, Iowa 50025 and Hospice of the Midwest, 103 North 4th Street, Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115.