Jody Buhr, 65, of Oelwein passed away Monday November 7, 2022 at home. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM on Thursday November 10, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM on Friday November 11, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Josh Schunk officiating. Interment will be at Buck Creek Cemetery in rural Sumner. Memorials may be directed to St. Croix Hospice.
Jody Lynn Buhr was born in Sumner on June 6, 1957 to parents Lawrence and Dorothy (Boevers) Judisch. She attended Readlyn Elementary School, Oran Jr. High and then graduated from Wapsi Valley High School. Jody continued her education at Hawkeye Tech. (Hawkeye Community College). On December 27, 1975 Jody was united in marriage with Rickey Buhr at St. John Lutheran Church at Buck Creek in rural Sumner. Jody was employed as a coding auditor with MercyOne Clinic in Waterloo, retiring in 2021.
Jody’s life revolved around four things: family, faith, music and sewing. She devoted her life to helping and serving others. She dedicated many years being the Sunday School Superintendent, which included elaborate and meaningful Christmas programs. She was a soprano in Kairos Singers with her beloved friends for 20+ years and shared ministry through music to countless people. She volunteered hundreds of hours sewing for Oelwein High School cheerleading and dance team programs when her daughters were involved. After her daughter Darci became the vocal music teacher at OHS in 2007, Jody volunteered altering show choir dresses and hemming choir robes. In 2020, she made 150+ Singer’s Masks so the OHS choir students could continue to sing during the pandemic.
Jody’s greatest joy in life were the titles of Mom and Grandma. There were few concerts, games, competitions, and county fairs that she missed. She was so proud of her daughters and grandchildren and loved them fiercely. Jody often shared with others that her greatest blessings in life were her daughters. They made her so proud. Jody was filled with faith. It only seemed fitting that the final song she listened to as she passed from our Earthly world, was a recording of her singing with Kairos Singers “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” with her daughters and husband by her side.
Left to celebrate Jody’s life are her husband Rick; her children: Jennifer (Darin) Steege of Waterloo and Darci (Matthew) Fuelling of Independence; her grandchildren: Karlee Fuelling, Jacob Steege, Dawson Fuelling, Emma Steege and Brecken Fuelling; her mother Dorothy Judisch of Sumner; her brother Timothy Judisch of Sumner; her beloved puppy, Zoie; her brothers-in-law Larry Buhr and Roger (Connie) Buhr; her sister-in-law Connie (Denny) Donat-Nuss; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Lawrence Judisch (2020); her father and mother-In-law Wilbert and Geneva Buhr; her sister-in-law Linda Buhr and her brother-in-law Ray Donat.
Jody’s family wishes to thank the countless friends and family who kept her company, helped our family, sent food, prayers and love as her disease progressed. She was loved beyond measure. “To have a friend is to be a friend.” It has been very evident Jody was a loyal, caring friend to all she met.
