Judith Railsback

JUDITH RAILSBACK

Cedar Rapids

Judith K. Railsback, 68, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital unexpectedly. Services are pending at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Survivors include her husband, Jerald; two daughters, Janet Timm of Cedar Rapids and Kimberly (Michael) Lovely of Assonet, Mass.; son, Joe Railsback of Cedar Rapids; stepdaughter, Rita (Kent) Duby of Cedar Rapids; stepson, John (Shelly) Rails-back of Palo; four sisters, Marguerite (Burt) Stillwell of Des Moines, Carol Wehr of Washington, Iona (Larry) Adrian of Iowa City and Claudie Burgess of Albia; and nine grandchildren, Tiffany, Sara, Quinton, Ben, Morgan, Miles, Aiden, Chloe and Janel.

She was preceded in death by a stepson, Jim Railsback, a brother, Bud Colbert, a granddaughter, Ella; and a sister.

Judy was born Dec. 20, 1945, in Iowa City, the daughter of Floyd and Iona Hurd Colbert. She married Jerald N. Railsback on Dec. 14, 1970, in Hiawatha.

She had a spirit that was second to none. In her younger years she loved to dance and sing and had always dreamed of becoming a professional singer. Although that never happened she did pride herself at being the lead vocalist in bands that played at neighborhood block parties when her children were young. She was always the life of the party. She loved to tell and use her "Sigourney Sayings" in conversation. For those who know her well, you know exactly what this means. Her family only hopes that many of these sayings will be carried on for generations to come.

She was a mother by nature. Many would say that in a way that was her biggest fault. She loved unselfishly. She cared and nurtured for so many, but she neglected to care for herself. As part of this she provided daycare for so many children and their families in her home for 37 years and has many "children" that refer to her as "grandma."

Although never in the military, Dad ranted and raved about the way she folded his clothes and made their bed, saying she always did them in "military fashion."

She prayed to God for years to deliver her a man like Dad and swore that if He did she would devote her life to him, and that is exactly what she did.

She will always be in the hearts and memories of those who loved her. There are no words that will describe the depth in which she will be missed.

A memorial fund has been established.

Please leave a message or tribute to Judy's family on the Web page, www. cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.