Jennifer Kay Hibbert

July 31, 1973 — April 16, 2026

Jennifer Hibbert

Service Details

Jennifer Kay Hibbert, 52, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2026 in Perry, Iowa.

Jennifer was born on July 31, 1973, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Ronald and Linda (Sebring) Cooley. From the very beginning, Jennifer’s life was full of movement, curiosity, and stories that became family legend. At three, she moved with her family to Iowa Falls, and from there her childhood stretched across Oklahoma, California, Kansas, Nevada, Washington, and eventually back to Iowa. She experienced more places in her early years than many people do in a lifetime. While living in California, she broke both wrists on the monkey bars—an accident she later laughed about, because of course she would be the kid who went all in on the playground.

During her time in Oklahoma, she traveled with her school to Washington, D.C., and New York City, a trip that opened her eyes to the wider world and stayed with her for years.

Jennifer eventually found her home in Perry, Iowa. She earned her GED in 1993 and worked a variety of jobs before choosing to stay home to raise her children—something she poured her whole heart into. She was the mom who showed up, the mom who volunteered, the mom who made things happen. Dance classes, Boy Scouts, baseball, softball, football—she was there for all of it. She spent many years as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, guiding not just her own kids but countless others.

In 2012, Jennifer decided it was time to chase a dream of her own. She enrolled at DMACC to become a Paralegal and proudly graduated in 2013. Over the next decade, she built a career she was proud of, working as an FMLA Leaves Processor at ADP and later taking on several roles at Athene. She processed contracts as both a New Business Representative and Specialist Representative, eventually becoming a New Business Team Lead before her time with Athene ended in 2024.

Family was always at the center of Jennifer’s world. She loved planning get togethers—whether it was a full house for a holiday meal or a simple weekend camping trip. Any chance to gather her kids and grandkids was a good day.

Jennifer was a passionate baseball fan. The Los Angeles Dodgers were her team, with the Los Angeles Angels close behind. She loved the big leagues, but she loved Little League just as much—first when her kids played, and later when her grandkids took the field. Football was another favorite, from youth games to the NFL, where she cheered for the Oakland Raiders and the Detroit Lions.

She also loved racing. Local dirt tracks, NASCAR weekends at Iowa Speedway, camping out and soaking in the noise, the energy, the whole experience—those were some of her happiest times.

Jennifer had a wide range of interests that made her who she was. She was a lifelong country music fan, with favorites spanning from the 1970s to today. When she wasn’t watching baseball, she enjoyed crime shows like Criminal Minds, cooking shows on the Food Network, and game shows like Family Feud. She loved classic sitcoms—The Golden Girls, The Andy Griffith Show, The Big Bang Theory—and she devoured true crime books.

She loved discovering new recipes online and cooking meals each day with her husband, turning ordinary evenings into small moments of connection. She also cherished simple weekend drives around Saylorville and other state parks, or peaceful walks along nature trails—quiet moments that grounded her.

Jennifer lived a life full of movement, laughter, devotion, and love. She gave her family memories that will last forever, and she leaves behind a legacy of warmth, strength, and unwavering care.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Hibbert; mother, Linda Cooley; siblings, Ronda (Jim) Davis, Lisa (Daryl) Stevens, Gina (Mike) Duncan, Craig Cooley, Mark Cooley, Rhonda Wick, Sheila Wick, and David Wick; children, Alexandra Cooley, James Hibbert, Matt DeLateur, Kaitlyn (Jeremy) Quick, Joseph DeLateur, Rose DeLateur, and William (Breanna) Hibbert; and grandchildren, Chasity, Kyler, Faith, Hope, Hazel, Ryder, Ryan, Jake, Rylie, Holly, Chase, Taylor, Leo, Haittiya, Skylar, Scarlett, and Brynleigh.

Jennifer was preceded in death by her father.

Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with visitation on Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and the funeral service on Friday, April 24 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Memorial donations may be sent to the family in loving memory of Jennifer and condolences expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.