Judith Diane, Amanda, Marcella Schultz Nelson died July 22, 2025 at Stoney Brook Village, West Union, Iowa. She was born on February 9, 1940, to Lloyd William and Aurelia Minnie (Heins) Schultz at her family home in Postville, Iowa.
Judy was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. She graduated Postville High School in 1958. Judy babysat and worked at the drive-in in Postville during her high school years, where she met her future husband, Kenny Nelson. After graduation, Judy left Postville for Kansas City to become an airline stewardess. She discovered she was too young, so she changed course and left for Cedar Rapids. In Cedar Rapids, she worked at Collins Radio.
Kenny followed her to Cedar Rapids where he worked at Collins Radio and they married May 15, 1960. From there they moved to Ossian, Iowa and were engaged in farming. Following farming, Judy was a stay-at-home mom and church secretary while Kenny worked for Riley’s Construction. In 1968, they were offered an opportunity to purchase the Clermont Pin Company. Judy worked at the Pin Company and did the bookkeeping while Kenny continued to work construction for a time. Eventually, he came off the road and together they ran the Pin Company, Car Wash, canoe rentals, bought and remodeled homes and various other business sidelines. They also bought and ran a tavern in Clermont (The Hideaway) in the late 1970s. After Kenny passed in 1990, Judy continued to run the Clermont Pin Company until selling it to their son, Barry, in 2005. For a time, Judy travelled in retirement with special friend Bill Ashby.
Judy was an avid reader. She liked to knit and do puzzles. She had a very strong and deep faith and was involved in many things at West Clermont Lutheran Church. Along with the ladies groups, teaching Bible school and Sunday school, she was a wedding planner for the church for many years, helping couples have a smooth wedding day. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much, often asking about them. She enjoyed all family get-togethers and catching up with the family. She also attended every school activity she could. Though Judy could be salty, she had a generous nature and became a licensed foster care provider to help her daughter, Tami, who is a foster parent.
Judy is survived by her four children, Tami (Todd) Guyer, Hawkeye, Iowa, Brenda (Jon) Wolter, Denver, Iowa, Barry (Connie) Nelson, Des Moines, Iowa and Todd (Sue) Nelson, Lisbon, Iowa; daughter of dear friend Bill, Kim (Steve) Woods, Marion, Iowa; twelve grandchildren, Kayosha (Joey) Hyde, Richard Guyer, Misty Wurzer, Lewis (Kara) Guyer, Emily Tieskotter, Cameron Guyer, Deshawn Guyer, Katie (Collin) Green, Dalton (Emily) Nelson, Zane Nelson, McKenna Nelson and Kali Nelson; grandchildren of Bill; Melanie Kemmann, Ben Woods and Tyler Woods; nine great-grandchildren, Jaxon Bergmann, Hailey, Gavyn and Dyson Wurzer, Addison, Emma, Caden, and Cooper Guyer and Tate Nelson; one sister, Sharon Becker; one brother-in-law, Mick Nelson and 3 sisters-in-law, JoAnn Sexton, LaVon Amundson and Marilyn Nelson. Many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenny of thirty years; special friend Bill and his son Rob Ashby; her parents; two brothers, Velder and Richard Schultz; two sisters, Arlene Pollock and Yvonne Landt; seven brothers-in-law, Gordon Pollock, Dean Landt, Louis Becker Jr., Enoch Nelson, Hank Nelson, Roger Leppert, and Jack Sexton; and three sisters-in-law, Jean Schultz, Delores Leppert, and Joyce Nelson.
Visitation will be Friday, August 22, 2025 from 6-8 pm at West Clermont Church, Clermont, Iowa and one hour before services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral Services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at West Clermont Church, Clermont, Iowa with Rev. Mike Erickson as the officiant.
Burial will follow at God’s Acres, Clermont, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting gifts directed to Gunderson Hospice and Stoney Brook Village.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Clermont, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements