Judith "Judy" Mae Herwehe, 98, of Knoxville, Iowa, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, at Accura HealthCare of Knoxville.

Born on October 6, 1927, in rural Monroe, Iowa, Judy was the eldest child of Ernest and Thelma (Lust) Johnson. She grew up on the family farm alongside her two younger brothers, Don and Delmar, learning the values of hard work, faith, and service that would guide the rest of her life.

Judy enjoyed learning and attended Cottage Grove Country School through eighth grade before enrolling at Monroe High School, where she graduated in 1946. Transportation from the family farm into town proved challenging, so in order to continue her education, Judy stayed in Monroe with family friends during the school year. Her classmates recognized her warmth, character, and friendly spirit when she was crowned homecoming queen during her senior year.

One year later, in 1947, she married her high school sweetheart, Lloyd Herwehe, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. After brief periods living in Des Moines and Newton, the couple settled in Knoxville, where they would spend the majority of their lives together and raise their family.

While Lloyd worked as the district sales representative for Ford Tractor Company, Judy devoted herself to creating a loving home and raising their three children: Steve, Mary, and Bill. As her children grew older, she entered the workforce, holding positions at Marion County Mutual, the Farmers Co-op, and W.P. Barber Lumber.

Yet Judy's greatest work was found not in the jobs she held, but in her commitment to serving others.

A faithful follower of Jesus Christ, Judy believed that faith was something to be lived, not merely spoken. In the early 1980s, after recognizing that local families were traveling to neighboring communities to obtain food assistance, she co-founded the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Knoxville. She spent countless hours building the organization from a small room in First Baptist Church into a vital community resource that continues to serve Knoxville families to this day.

First Baptist Church of Knoxville remained at the center of Judy's life. She taught Bible School, served on committees, participated in church activities, and faithfully attended worship services throughout the years. Her service extended beyond the church walls through her involvement in helping to organize the local chapter of the CROP Hunger Walk, helping raise money and support for efforts to combat hunger both locally and around the world.

Judy's Christian faith was her guiding light, but her true legacy is found in the countless lives she touched through simple acts of kindness, generosity, and love. She believed deeply in caring for her neighbors, helping those in need, and cherishing time with family and friends.

She is survived by her three children, Steve (Kathy) Herwehe of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mary Cook of Portland, Oregon; and Bill (Jane) Herwehe of New Orleans, Louisiana; her brothers, Don Johnson and Delmar Johnson; her five grandchildren, Joe (Amy E.) Herwehe of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Scott (Amy Z.) Herwehe of El Paso, Texas; Tom (Amy L.) Herwehe of Iowa City, Iowa; Sam Herwehe of New Orleans, Louisiana; Claire Herwehe of Portland, Oregon; and her three great grandchildren Tanner, Calvin, and Gwen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Lloyd; her son-in-law, Mike Cook; and her grandson, Ben Cook.

A few years ago, one of her grandchildren asked whether she had any regrets in life. After a moment of reflection, Judy replied, "When I look back on my life, I don't have any regrets. I feel so lucky to have had such a blessed life."

After 98 years marked by faith, family, service, and gratitude, those words remain a fitting summary of a life well lived.

We should all be so lucky.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Helping Hands Food Pantry or First Baptist Church of Knoxville.