Jody K. Irwin

Jody K. Irwin, 71 of Sioux City passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023 at Lawton Senior Living. A memorial service will be at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at Nelson Berger Northside Chapel.

Jody was born March 18, 1952 in Sioux City, Iowa to Robert and Virginia (McDonald) Barnes. She grew up in Sioux City and attended school at Central High School. After high school, she was married and began raising her daughter. In 1986 she moved to Wakefield, NE. From there, she enjoyed moving to different cities and states.

Jody built chicken coops with her sister, Gail for several years in Wakefield and Bloomfield, NE. She worked at Waldbaums in Bloomfield, NE. She cleaned houses on her own for most of her life. She enjoyed cleaning and was really good at it.

Jody met the love of her life, Don Irwin in 2000 and they were married in 2002 in Mission, TX where they lived for several years.

Jody will be remembered as a free spirit who loved life and making people laugh. She enjoyed the outdoors, camping, and gardening. She also had a green thumb and enjoyed all of her plants. Jody and Don went on a cruise and absolutely loved it. She especially loved and valued her family and socializing with her friends. The last 4 years of life she lived in Lawton Senior Living and looked forward to going out to eat with her daughter, who did her best to take care of her while she was there.

Jody is survived by her daughter, Cathy (Arnie Myers) Kempema; grandson, Nathaniel IronShell; great grandchildren, A’yana, Nate and Landon IronShell; uncle, Robert (Diane) McDonald; niece, Stacey (Scott) Vance and their 2 daughters; nephew, John (Rachel) Montagne and their 2 daughters.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Irwin; her parents; a sister, Gail Rohweder; uncle, Doug McDonald; and a granddaughter, Desirae IronShell.