Judi Carpenter

Judith Lee Carpenter, 86, passed away on Sunday, April 27th, 2025, at her home in Pleasant Hill, Ia.

The family will greet visitors from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., on Friday, May 2, 2025 at Hamilton near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held the following day Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. also at the funeral home with burial to follow at Highland Memorial Gardens Cemetery 1 NE 60th Avenue in Des Moines. A luncheon will follow at Vittoria Lodge in Ankeny.

Judith Lee Carpenter (Jones) was born on August 18th, 1938, to Glenn Hunter Sr. and Dorothea Rae Jones (Smith) in Kansas City, Kansas. Judi grew up in the Mission Heights neighborhood of Kansas City. Judi attended Prairie primary school and graduated from Shawnee Mission High School in 1956. During high school Judi was active in Pep club, Square Dance club, Homeroom Treasurer, Y-Teens, Inner Circle, Ensemble club, Operetta club, was an avid piano player and modeled for JC Penny magazine.

After graduation, the Jones family relocated to Des Moines, Iowa after Glenn received a job offer. While in Des Moines Judi worked at Banker’s Life and was studying to be a Dance Instructor at Arthur Murray’s Dance Studio where she met Gerald Eli Carpenter of rural Maxwell, Iowa. As their love blossomed, Gerald and Judi were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Elkhart, Iowa on June 21st, 1958. To this union, Gerald and Judi were blessed with 5 children: Loretta Rae, Victoria Lynn, Mark Alan, Cynthia Marie, and James Eli; 13 grandchildren: David, Kevin, Amanda, Gary Jr., Greg, Jessica, Steven, Julie, Doug, Nikki, Zach, Josh, and Tina.

Judi’s first job was being a wife and mother on the Carpenter Farm in rural Maxwell. Once Jimmy went to school, Judi worked for several years at Union 76 in Altoona, Iowa. Judi then went to work in Marketing for Budget Marketing headquartered in Des Moines for 20 years, retiring in 1999. Judi enjoyed many activities including riding motorcycles with Gerald, playing piano, crocheting and cross-stitching blankets for family, friends and the homeless during CCM’s drives, being a den leader for Cub Scouts of America, fishing at their cabin in Canada, playing cards, and going on many, many family reunions and vacations.

Judi is survived by her children, Lori (Russ) Hauenstein of Port Orchard, Wa., Vicki (Rich) Kirkeby of Des Moines, Mark Carpenter and Michelle Nava of Mingo, Cindi (Ron) Richey of Pleasant Hill, and Jim (Sandi) Carpenter of Grimes; her grandchildren David (Luella) Hauenstein of Port Orchard, Wa., Kevin Hauenstein of Port Orchard, Wa., Amanda (Jeff) Kimberley of Collins, Gary Jr (Jackie) Link of Van Meter, Greg Link of Maxwell, Jessica (Alan) Romanack of Texas, Steven (Lynda) Carpenter of San Antonio, Tx., Julie (Joe) Johnson of Ankeny, Doug Carpenter of Des Moines, Nikki (Brian) Berglund of Des Moines, Zach (Samantha) Richey of Des Moines, Josh Richey of Pleasant Hill, and Tina (Derrick) Mills of Atlanta, Ga; 21 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Judi was preceded in death by Gerald Carpenter, her devoted husband of 63 years, her parents Glenn Hunter Sr and Dorthea Rae Jones, her parents-in-law DW and Ruth Carpenter, and her siblings Glenn Hunter Jones Jr. and Joann Hatfield.

Flowers may be sent to Hamilton near Highland Memory Gardens and memorial contributions may be made to Crimson Creed Ministries in memory of Judi.

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