Ida Duffy

Ida M. Duffy, 78, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, October 28, 2016, at her home. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 4th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Thursday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 PM scripture service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Patrick's School and Robey Memorial Library, both in Waukon.

Ida Marie Duffy was born July 23, 1938, to Lee and Effie (Clapper) Pleggenkuhle. She grew up on a farm near Hawkeye, IA, along with her parents and three older siblings: Carl, Lois, and Ruth. At the age of four, Ida began following her siblings to their country school in Richfield Township. Ida graduated from Hawkeye High School at the age of 16, and proceeded to obtain her teaching degree from Iowa Teachers College two years later (now University of Northern Iowa).

After returning to Northeast Iowa, Ida met Howard Duffy on a blind date. They married on August 22, 1959, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Howard and Ida welcomed four daughters into their family: Patricia, Elizabeth, Michelle, and Anne.

Ida taught school at Monona, Postville, and at St. Patrick's School in Waukon. Together, Howard and Ida owned and operated Duffy and Ludeking Feed Store. Ida worked primarily as a bookkeeper while Howard managed business operations.

During her limited free time, Ida would be found reading novels (usually two or three books a week), completing crossword puzzles, and enjoying music. She enjoyed spending time with her family, playing cards with her grandchildren, exercising at the Waukon Wellness Center, and traveling around the country and abroad with her sister Lois. Ida loved socializing with "The Ladies".

Howard and Ida are survived by their four daughters and their spouses:  Patricia (Jay) Colsch of Waverly, IA, Elizabeth (Tony) Minutillo of Crystal Lake, IL, and Michelle (Brian) Herman and Anne (John) Grampovnik, both of Waukon. Ida is also survived by 13 grandchildren:  Reginald Duvel; Sara Duvel-Olsen and husband Jon Olsen; Christen Duvel; Nickolas and Leah Colsch; Lucas, Jillian, Delaney, and Brandon Minutillo; Breanne Bernau and husband Travis Bernau; Trevor and Alexa Herman; and Alexz Grampovnik. Her eight great-grandchildren include: Brody, Jaxon, Gavin, and Joslyn Bernau; Aiden and Gabriel Duvel-Hughes; Brynn Herman; and Drew Olsen. Two sisters: Lois Schlatter of Gulf Breeze, FL and Ruth Knox of Clermont, IA, also survive.

She is reunited in heaven with Howard, who died on May 22, 2012; her parents; brother Carl Pleggenkuhle; and her sisters-in-law: Anna Mae Borseth, Shirley Schulte, Jenny Kelly, Jo Ann Troendle.

Honorary casketbearers are Sara Olsen, Chris Duvel, Leah Colsch, Delaney and Jillian Minutillo, Breanne Bernau, Alexa Herman, Alexz Grampovnik, and Ida's good friends "The Ladies". Casketbearers are Reg Duvel, Nick Colsch, Lucas and Brandon Minutillo, Trevor Herman, Travis Bernau, Jon Olsen, and Kramer Dixon.