Nancy Lee Rhoades

Nancy Lee Rhoades, 70, of Des Moines, passed away at Methodist Medical Center on October 29, 2022, surrounded by family after a short illness.

Nancy was born on May 30, 1952, in Marshalltown, Iowa to Robert and Dorothy (Wickersham) Rider. Nancy was the youngest of four children and was raised on the family farm near LaMoille and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1970. Nancy married Dean Albers in 1971 and together had two children: Michelle and Dennis. After only two years of marriage, Dean died in a car accident leaving Nancy to care for her two young children. In 1976 Nancy married Terry Rhoades with whom she would have two more children: Michael and Timothy, and then later divorced.

Nancy lived in the Marshalltown area most of her life and held various jobs in the area. While raising four children with the support of her mom, she decided to go back to school and earned a degree from Marshalltown Community College in 1989 and went on to the University of Northern Iowa to complete her BA degree in 1992.

Nancy found enjoyment in reading and keeping up with current events, supporting her children and grandchildren in their activities, and spending time with family, especially caring for her great-nieces and nephews. You could often find her completing a crossword puzzle with freshly painted nails. Her family will cherish memories from the time spent together during their annual family reunion trips. She was young at heart and always looking for a good time as well as conversations and debates with the people she crossed paths with. Nancy was very approachable and offered nonjudgmental friendship to those she met.

The most beloved and treasured people in Nancy’s life were her four children and three grandchildren: Clara, Cora, and Cade. She also had a soft spot for cats and had great companionship with her cats Casey and George.

She is survived by three of her children: Michelle (Craig) Moore of Des Moines, Dennis (Carie) Albers of Port Orchard, WA, and Timothy (Emily) Rhoades of Polk City; three grandchildren: Clara, Cora, and Cade Rhoades. Brothers: Ronald (Jane) Rider of Clive, Robert (Connie) Rider of Urbandale. Many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. She is proceeded in death by her son, Michael Rhoades, parents, Robert and Dorothy (Wickersham) Rider, and sister, Pat Jordan.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, November 4, 2022, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa. Memorial graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Elmwood Cemetery in LaMoille, Iowa.

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