Jean F. Pudenz, 88, of Carroll passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at Methodist Medical Center West in Des Moines surrounded by her family.
A private funeral service for the family will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll with Fr. Kevin Richter officiating. Casket bearers will be Jean’s grandchildren. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
A recording of Jean’s service will be available on the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home’s YouTube page and a link will be provided at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com within 24 hours of her funeral.
Those who wish to send cards and memorials may mail them to: The Family of Jean Pudenz c/o Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home – 705 N. Carroll St. Carroll, Iowa 51401.
Jean was born on October 4, 1932 to Carl and Lena (Ortner) Stork in Mount Carmel, IA. Jean married LeRoy Pudenz on August 18, 1952 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Mt. Carmel. They raised their family of five children on a farm near Auburn, IA. Jean and Roy moved to Carroll in 1982 where Jean began her life as a grandmother and discovered a passion for making donuts. Roy continued to work on the farm, with his son Kevin who lived on the home place. Roy and Jean enjoyed 40 years of marriage until Roy’s death in 1992. Jean continued to enjoy the Carroll community until she moved to the Edgewater Retirement Center in West Des Moines in 2012.
Jean took great pride in making her house a beloved home for family and friends. She was an excellent cook and baker. Family favorites talked about in her final hours included fried chicken, apple and rhubarb pies, mile-high cinnamon rolls, homemade bread, cucumber salad, Rice Krispy treats, buttered popcorn and bacon! Jean spent countless hours preparing for large gatherings at the farm and for holiday celebrations that united family for years.
Jean had many passions which seemed to change with each decade. Suffice it to say that when she committed to a hobby, she was all in! She liberally gifted an abundance of garden produce, ceramic treasures, doilies, afghan blankets and knitted wash cloths. She was an avid golfer and played daily either with LeRoy or her special friends. In later years, Jean spent countless hours puzzling. She especially enjoyed puzzling with her family, becoming affectionately known as the Puzzle Lady of Edgewater. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren will always remember her love for them and her endless supply of Skittles.
Jean is survived by her children Danny and Cathy (Snyder) Pudenz of Lincoln, NE, Cindy and Mark Pollastrini of Newton, IA, Kelly and MacKenzie (Hinners) Pudenz of Mesa, AZ, and Carla and Rob Mosher of West Des Moines, IA; her siblings: Mark Stork of Oklahoma, Lois Shreck of Des Moines and Marian Otto of Council Bluffs. Jean has 20 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren as well as many other extended family members.
Jean is preceded in death by her husband Roy, son Kevin, parents Carl and Lena Stork, brothers: Loras Stork, Neil Stork, and her twin sister Janice Hoffman.
Jean’s children are grateful for the care provided by the Edgewater staff during the last 8 years, as well as her care from the Methodist West Hospital staff on 4th floor this past week. Their kindness, compassion, love and respect was comforting to all, but especially to their mom.
