Judy Kay Andreas

The Andreas children are saddened to announce the passing of their mother, Judy Kay (Clark) Andreas, on Sunday, November 8th, 2020.

Born on September 18, 1938, Judy was a life-long resident of Des Moines. In her youth she lived near, and ultimately attended, North High School. An intelligent and stunning teen, Judy gained the attention of her brother’s best friend, John Joseph Andreas, and they married on October 1, 1955. The couple moved to an apartment on 4th & Clark Streets after their first son, Joseph Michael, was born. Shortly after their second child, Joel Thomas, was born the growing clan moved to a house on Payton Avenue on Des Moines' south side, a home that would make way for three additional children: Julia Kay, Jill Marie, and John Patrick. A home where she would live until her passing. It was a home that filled with music and books, art and laughter; "behave and be creative," the only contract for any kid to spend the day. Decades later, many of the children from the surrounding neighborhoods who played there as children would drag their own kids to the Andreas home, telling stories of how, when TV took up less of kids' time, they played games in that giant yard, hung out in the tree houses, played baseball and Red Rover, rode to the moon in the rocket ship, made snow tunnels, created movie sets, and played with the table saws (those of you who spent a day there get it).

Though never graduating high school herself, Judy put a strong emphasis on education, often reading to us from encyclopedias and dictionaries, buying instruments and attending band concerts, setting up easels and painting, taking her children to the library every week, and on family trips to the Art Center and Historical museum. When her youngest child began 1st grade, she got her GED and began working for the Des Moines school system as a Teaching Assistant at Ft. Des Moines Elementary, mere blocks from her home. When the youngest child transferred to Mitchell elementary, she followed. Judy continued her work as a Teaching Assistant for 18 years, retiring from Rice Elementary in 1997.

Kids grown, she did it all again as the grand kids started showing up.

She and her husband John spent their golden years in that same home on Payton, keeping up the house, tending to her flowers, and enjoying evenings on the front porch. After 64 years of marriage, Judy lost John in June of 2019. Her first born, Joe, returned from California to help her live out her days in the home she created.

Judy is survived by her children Joseph Michael Andreas, Joel Thomas Andreas (Julia Ann), Julia Kay Masimore (Chris), Jill Marie Kline (Dwight), John "Boo" Andreas, 10 grand kids and 3 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Andreas, Jr.


A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 28, 2020 at Resthaven Cemetery. The family has requested that all guests wear masks and practice social distancing.

In lieu of flowers the family ask that all donations be directed to the Animal Relief Coalition of Iowa, PO Box 38, Boone, Iowa 50036.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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