Carmen Kay "Tootie" Cordes, 71, of Guernsey, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, with her family at her side.
A funeral service was held Jan. 27 at Community Hope Church in Montezuma with the Rev. Matt Flanders officiating. Casketbearers were her grandchildren: Levi Cordes, Ashlan Cordes, Garrett Cordes, Coby Cordes, Tristan Hofer, Ethan Hofer, Aidan Hofer, Amelia Hofer, Baze Cordes, and Zane Cordes. Interment was at Guernsey Cemetery. Should friends desire, memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or to the Garden Gate Ranch and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Carmen was born Dec. 17, 1946, at St. Francis Hospital in Grinnell to James and Carmen Cummings Kriegel. She was raised in Malcom and graduated from BGM High School with the Class of 1965.
May 20, 1967, she was married to Marvin Cordes at the Baptist Church in Victor. The family operated a grain and livestock farm near Guernsey. She was a mother of four children, assisted her husband with the farm operation, and worked in the human relations department at Victor Plastics Company.
Carmen enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, camping, gardening, and caring for her cats.
Survivors include her husband, Marvin Cordes of Guernsey; her children: Jeff (Brenda) Cordes of Pella, Kenneth (Heather) Cordes of Guernsey, Angela (Chris) Hofer of Tea, SD, and Kevin (Sandy) Cordes of Sully; 10 grandchildren; three brothers, Gary Kriegel of Malcom, Don Kriegel of Malcom, and Roger Kriegel of Deep River; and nine sisters, Rosemary Neighbors of Malcom, Kathy Whitsell of Chelsea, Connie Buffum of Grinnell, Debbie Hargis of New Sharon, Cindy Plate of Grinnell, Janet Plants, Angie Roller, Vickie Bunn, and Janine Hawkins, all of Brooklyn. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Danny and Elmer Kriegel; and two sisters, Shirley Ahrens and Valerie Schafbuch.
