Judith “Judy” Jostes Chadima

Judith “Judy” Jostes Chadima

Cedar Rapids

Judith “Judy” Jostes Chadima, 95, peacefully ascended to her heavenly home on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids, IA. Visitations will be held Monday, April 21, 2025, from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Cedar Memorial State Room in Cedar Rapids, and on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 9:30-10:15 am at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 am.

Judy was born Dec. 21,1929 in Chicago, IL to Benedict and Helen (Thompson) Jostes. She graduated from Coe College in 1951 where she met her husband, Bill. They were married for 55 years beginning on April 12,1951, until Bill’s passing in 2006.

She is survived by her children, Chris James, Barb (Tom) Atwood, Bill (Sue) Chadima, Jim (Cyndi O’Brien) Chadima, and John Chadima; daughter-in-law, Diann Chadima, sister, Jeanne Froelich, sister-in-law, Gale Jostes; and her 13 grandchildren, Austin (Jenny) Chadima, Tyler Chadima, Brooke (Joe) Croshier-Sidebotham, Kaylyn Croshier, Emily (Chris) Hoffman, Megan (Chad) Johnson, Molly James (fiancé Mitch Eisenman), Jane (Jerome) Kayl, Chad (Marisa) Atwood, Jacob (Laurel) Atwood, Annie (Zach) Wingo, Courtney (Dylan) McLaughlin, Reece Chadima; 24 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Judy was a faithful and devoted Catholic, attending St. Matthew Catholic Church for all of her adult life, acting as a communion minister, participating in Bible study, and serving coffee and donuts after Mass every Sunday.

Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, baking, making homemade sauerkraut and playing a little tennis with her friends at the Cedar Rapids Country Club. Judy loved sports (a “Huge” White Sox fan!), but her passion was swimming. Her competitions included Masters Swimming and National Senior Games, winning multiple championship medals along the way. To this day, Judy still holds many individual records. In addition, she was inducted into the Coe College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.

When the family nest was empty, she earned a Medical Records degree from Kirkwood Community College, and was employed by St. Luke's Hospital until her retirement at age 84. About that same time, her son John hired her to wash dishes at his Firehouse Subs restaurant. Word has it, the dishes were never cleaner!

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, Doug, her sister, Jane, and her brother, Tom.

Memorial contributions in Judy’s memory may be directed to St. Matthew Church, Coe College, or the Meth-Wick Community.

We are grateful for the devoted staff at Meth-Wick and their exceptional care for mom and our family.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.