Judy Lubben, age 82 of Remsen, IA. passed away on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022 at her home in Remsen.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, IA with Father Timothy Pick officiating and Deacon Doug Heeren assisting. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen, Iowa. Visitation with family present will be 4-6p.m. on Wednesday, there will be a parish rosary and vigil prayer service at 5 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. Visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Services have been entrusted to the Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. Online condolences and livestream funeral can be viewed at www.fischfh.com
Judy was born on October 6, 1939 to Lawrence and Bernetta “Bea” (Boothby) Reinert in Cherokee, Iowa. She was raised in Marcus, Iowa and received her education at Holy Name Catholic School, graduating in 1957. In her earlier years she worked at Bob’s IGA, then obtained a degree in bookkeeping where she obtained a job at mid-Sioux opportunity in Remsen. She then worked for wells blue bunny as a bookkeeper for 30 years in addition to working at the Avalon ballroom for 40 years.
Judy was married to Gary Schmitz and later divorced. She later married Gerald (Jerry) Lubben in 1978.
Judy was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen. Her Interests and hobbies included traveling, re-finishing furniture, antiquing and shopping. Judy also enjoyed gathering with friends and family, watching western movies and listening to country music.
Survivors include, her husband, Jerry Lubben of Remsen; her children, Rhonda Wittkop (fiancé Bob Hoffman) of Merrill, IA, Barb Port of Merrill, IA, Linda (Steve) Staab of Barnett, MO, and Carla Steele of Cherokee, IA; 2 step-children, Gerrie Lynn Lubben (Brandon Carpenter) and Kim (Ed) Zimmerman; 7 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; 2 brothers, LeRoy (Sandy) Reinert of Loveland, OH, Terry Reinert of Branson, MO; sister, Becky (Rusty) Bentzinger of Pella, IA; brother-in-law, John Schroeder of Remsen, IA; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by, her parents, Lawrence & Bernetta Reinert; sister, Meridith “Minnie” Schroeder; brother, Larry Reinert; grandson, Zachery Port.
Casket bearers will be Nicholas Weiler, Josh Fuller, Adam Wittkop, Aaron Mummert, Brandon Carpenter and Bob Hoffman.
Phyllis Kay Ames, age 80 of rural Meriden, IA, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022, at the Heartland Care Center in Marcus, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 18, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Pastor Don Meyer will officiate. Burial will be at Liberty Township Cemetery, rural Meriden. Public visitation with family present will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday night at the Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Marcus. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Marcus is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.
Phyllis Kay Ames, the daughter of Melvin and Alice (Puhrmann) Schmidt, was born on April 9, 1942, in Le Mars, IA. On May 3, 1942, she was baptized at her grandparent’s home. She was confirmed on May 27, 1956 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Her childhood years were spent in rural Meriden. She graduated from Meriden High School in 1960. She was the last graduating class from Meriden.
Since the age of 13, Phyllis became known as one of the best cake decorators around. It was a love that she shared with many, teaching them to bake and decorate cakes. This passion lasted over 65 years. The last cake she made was for her granddaughter’s wedding. Phyllis was 78 at the time.
On June 4, 1961, Phyllis was united in marriage to Gaylen Doyle Ames at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee, IA. Following their marriage, Phyllis helped Doyle drive school bus and occasionally truck. During this marriage two boys were born, Jeff and Todd. During a feed delivery to Missouri with Doyle, Phyllis and the boys, a tragic truck accident took the life of Doyle, leaving Phyllis with a broken back, Jeff and Todd with serious injuries. Phyllis and Jeff learned to walk again together 6 weeks after the accident.
Years later Phyllis was married and had her daughter Danae.
After her recovery Phyllis drove school bus full time where she made lifelong friendships with the children she transported. She became known as “The Lady Grinder” and “Ma Flis”.