Public funeral services for 84 year old Jordean “Jody” Aschinger of Wall Lake will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 29, 2021 at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Wall Lake, IA. Burial will take place at the Wall Lake Cemetery. Public visitation will be Thursday evening 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., January 28, 2021 at the church. Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Wall Lake is in charge of arrangements.
Jordean (Jody) Jean (Friedrichsen) Aschinger was born to Marcella and Ommo Friedrichsen on February 15, 1937, on her parents’ farm near Schleswig, Iowa. Just short of her 84th birthday, Jody passed away on January 25, 2021, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, Iowa from cirrhosis of the liver due to a medication she took for arthritis.
Jody was baptized on April 18, 1937, and confirmed March 25, 1951, at Friedens Evangelical and Reformed Church in Schleswig. She attended country school and graduated from the 8th grade on May 23, 1950. In her teen years, she worked at the local drug store in Schleswig with one of her best friends. On March 16, 1958, Jody married the love of her life, Veryl Dean Aschinger at Friedens. They moved to a farm 1/2 mile north of Wall Lake, where they began their life as cattle and grain farmers. They raised four children on the farm, Debra, Bradley, Craig, and Patricia.
Jody was known to love babies and looked forward to holding her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and would have homemade cookies in the freezer for them. She was a natural with children, helping her own mother raise her twin brothers. She was also known for her one-liners, like “This old gray mare isn’t what she used to be,” which was often heard toward the end of her life and “Let’s go shopping!” She was also known to always have a kleenex handy! Other things Jody loved were radish sandwiches, which she was served at TA upon request. In her younger years, she loved to garden and eat the fruits of her labor, especially tomatoes, onions, and radishes. For entertainment, Jody and Veryl loved to go to the local dance halls and to attend their children and grandchildren’s sporting events.
Midlife, Jody was active in the Presbyterian Church as an elder and a member of the Presbyterian Women’s Group. She and Veryl were active in the community of Wall Lake serving as chairmen of the Farm Festival for 10 years. Jody also volunteered at Twilight Acres serving afternoon coffee time and working at the local bloodmobiles.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 62 years, Veryl; children: Deb (Bill) Brotherton, Brad Aschinger, Craig (Lynnette) Aschinger, and Trish (Mark) Freier; grandchildren: Jess (Todd) Miller, Craig (Rachel) Brotherton, Abby (Weston) Wicks, Ali (Tanner) Bengford, Phil (Megan) Brotherton, Amber Aschinger, Brandon (Mckayla) Aschinger, Mandy (Nick) Buse, Trevor, Derek, and Jennifer Aschinger, Mike, Jeff, and Shawn Freier; fourteen great-grandchildren; two brothers: Eugene (Marla) Friedrichsen, Virgene (Wanita) Friedrichsen; sisters-in-law: Zola (Norman) Friedrichsen, Bonnie (Manuel) Aschinger, and Bernita (Donald Aschinger) Carstensen.
Jody is preceded in death by parents, Marcella (Walter Korner) and Ommo Friedrichsen, daughter-in-law Mary Aschinger, brother Norman Friedrichsen, sister LaJune and her husband Roger Johannsen, brother and sisters-in-law Rueben & Leola Aschinger, Manuel Aschinger, Donald Aschinger, Lloyd & Delores Wright, Delores’ second husband LeRoy Rowedder, Marlin & Bettie Aschinger, Marlin’s second wife Lorraine, and Paul & JoAnn Trost. Nieces and nephews Ricky Friedrichsen, Susan, Len, Keith, and Jay Johannsen, Jason and Justin Friedrichsen, Mike and TJ Friedrichsen, and parents-in-law John & Kate Aschinger.
Jody will be remembered by many family members and friends, as well as those who took care of her at Twilight Acres.