Cynthia "Cindy" Mouchka

Cynthia “Cindy” Sue McElderry-Mouchka, 62, of West Des Moines, IA, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2022 with her husband David lovingly by her side.

Cindy’s life would seem too short to many, but those of us who were blessed to be touched by her understand that her existence and the imprint she left on our hearts exceed the quantity of time that she stayed with us here.

Cindy was a detailed and driven individual whom excelled throughout her working years. She embraced every opportunity whether it was her time as a book keeper, a special education teacher’s aide or her time in the insurance industry. She was smart and eager to learn and had a desire to do her very best. She took pride in her work and having a positive impact on the lives she touched. Some of her fondest memories were helping her students to excel and realize their potential and the summers spent engaging with her community while working with her daughter at Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City.
Everyone who knew Cindy knew that she was an extremely kind, loving, gentle and peaceful person, and that she loved her family very much. There wasn’t a baseball game, choir concert, dance performance or any aspect of her family’s lives she was going to miss. If she had to sacrifice her own dreams to help her children fulfill theirs she acted without hesitation. She loved with her whole heart and was a constant light in both the good times and the trying times.

Family time was truly cherished. She loved coming together with family for the holidays, the impromptu gatherings, the days spent at her pool, all those summer days camping & the summer nights cheering the 16z around the dirt tracks of Iowa with her video camera in hand. In the fall she could be found cheering mightily for her beloved Green Bay Packers & the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. She loved to share pictures and stories of the latest freedom rocks that she and David had visited. She soaked up every minute she could with her grandchildren, Kinsley & Camden. Spending hours baking, searching for the perfect little treasures on their dollar store trips and dancing to their favorite music in her apartment. She saw the true value of time with loved ones over all else.

Cindy lived with bile duct cancer for the last 5 years of her life. She battled the disease with the most amazing grace, bravery and strength. She lived everyday with positivity and determination not to let the disease keep her from doing the things she loved. She had a lifelong dream of visiting the ocean, even though she wasn’t much of a swimmer. She wanted to feel the sand beneath her feet and to take in the views, sounds and smells of the ocean. Thanks to her loving husband and some dear friends, she was able to fulfill her dream this past fall. The smile on her face in the photos and the stories that were shared about her first sunset on the beach truly showed how she was able to find joy in what many would see as the simplest of moments.

She loved to tell everyone that she was a fighter, an Irish fighter, and that she was going to beat this disease. Unfortunately, the healing doesn’t always come this side of heaven but, the healing has come. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.” Her faith has led her home and she has received her crown. The joy in her eyes overlooking the ocean was amazing but, I can only imagine the look on her face as our Lord greeted her in heaven and she was embraced by her son Ben, her parents and the many loved ones who passed before her.

She is survived by her husband David Mouchka; son Justin Stravers, his wife Kelli and their children, Kinsley & Camden; daughter Michelle Stravers, her significant other John Pruitt; and step-daughter Jessica Mouchka. Cindy also leaves behind brothers, Jerry McElderry and Jeff McElderry; sisters Amy Cheers (Randy), Brenda Rhodes (Greg), Rhonda McClaflin (Mark); brother-in-law Jimmy Mouchka (Ruby) and sister-in-law Regina “Gina” Marshall (Jim). As well as extended family members.

Cindy was preceded in death by her parents Jerry & Wanda McElderry and son Ben Stravers.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to ChildServe in Memory of Cindy Mouchka. Online donations can be made at www.childserve.org/donate. Donations can also be mailed to ChildServe at, 5406 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston, IA 50131.
• For online donations, there is a memorial section that can be filled out on the donation form to make the gift in memory of Cindy Mouchka.
• For mailed donations, please include a note with the gift if you would like your donation attributed to Cindy Mouchka’s memorial fund.

Memorial Services will be held at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50313.
• There will be a visitation on Thursday, March 24th from 6:00-8:00 PM.
• The memorial service will be held on Friday, March 25th at 10:00 AM.

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