Terri Studer

Terri (Merschman) Studer, 62, of Ankeny, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2023 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center of toxic shock. She was born on September 11, 1960, in Ft. Madison, Iowa to Carl and Ina Merschman. She attended St. James grade school in St. Paul, Iowa until the 8th grade. In 1974, she and her family moved to Altoona, Iowa and started Homemakers Furniture. She graduated from Southeast Polk High School in 1978. After attending college, she moved to Las Vegas and worked with airlines. She then moved to Arizona and worked in real estate with her sister, Connie. The sisters then moved back to Iowa to join the family business.

She was the Accessories Buyer for Homemakers Furniture from 1990-2004 and worked with her parents and siblings to build the business into Iowa’s largest furniture store. She had an amazing talent to decorate and furnish a home, with an eye for color, design and putting just the right accessory in the right place. She adored her cats, Baby, Purdy and Sweet Pea and spoiled them rotten. In 2006 Terri met the love of her life Jim Studer and it was clear that they were a perfect match. They were married on September 19, 2009.

She had an adventurous spirit, a positive outlook and a caring heart. Terri and Jim loved to travel together. She loved her family more than anything and dedicated her life to making sure her mother and her husband were taken care of.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 13 years, Jim Studer; his son, Andy (Jenny); daughter, Amy (Travis); grandchildren, Caleb, Tyler, and Makayla; mother, Ina Merschman; brothers, Dave (Anne), Alan (Erin), and Roger (Kristy); sister, Connie; four nephews; five nieces; two great nieces; one great nephew; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her infant brother, Joseph; father, Carl; her in-laws, Cletus and Colleen Studer.

Visitation will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Des Moines on Sunday, August 13, 2023 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Rosary will start at 5:30 p.m. with vigil service at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held the following day Monday, August 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., also at the Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave 17th Floor Chicago, IL 60601 or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa in loving memory of Terri Studer.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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