Cindy Ann Tucker

Cindy Tucker, age 64, of Winterset passed away on April 17, 2023 at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, surrounded by her husband and children, after having waged a courageous two-month battle against lymphoma and HLH (the former cancer of the lymphatic system, the latter a debilitating blood disorder). Her family would like to acknowledge and express thanks for the care and concern Cindy received from the health care providers at Madison County Memorial Hospital and MercyOne Medical Center during this challenging time.

Cindy was born Cynthia Ann Carlson on August 5, 1958, to Richard and Joy (Burnison) Carlson in Creston, Iowa. She was a 1976 graduate of Creston Community High School, and on October 2 of that same year married Richard Tucker of Winterset at the Salem Lutheran Church in Creston. After living in Des Moines for a few months while Richard finished his undergraduate degree at Drake University, the couple moved to Winterset, where they have continued to live since.

Cindy and Richard were parents to four children: Lyndsay, Kelsey, Brett and Paige, each of whom attended Winterset Community Schools through grades K-12, and then went on to earn one or more degrees at one or another Iowa college/university. Over the years, both while and after raising her children, Cindy combined being a homemaker with various jobs outside of the home, including several years working at Union State Bank. For the final 24 years of her working life, Cindy was employed by Winterset Community Schools, the majority of this time serving as a staff member in the Junior/Senior High School Library. Cindy loved interacting with students and teachers alike, and was particularly fond of making book recommendations to students. She retired from the school in 2020, but continued to enjoy running into and visiting with former students while being out and about in the community.

Cindy was one of the friendliest, most outgoing persons one could ever encounter, and was also one of the kindest and most thoughtful. She developed and nurtured so many personal relationships over the years: with family members, friends, colleagues and co-workers, students, and pretty much anyone and everyone with whom she came into contact. Cindy had a joyous air and spirit about her, which caused people to be drawn to her. And she was unquestionably the heart and soul of her immediate family – the sun around which her husband and children revolved – having established and maintained a way of being with one another, and a set of habits and traditions, that served as an exemplar of the best features that constitute “family.”

Left to honor Cindy’s memory are her husband of 46 years, Richard Tucker of Winterset; as well as her children and grandchildren: daughter, Lyndsay (David) Moberg of Stockholm, Sweden and children Devin and Elle; daughter, Kelsey (Eric) Lloyd of Waukee and children Brody, Logan, Emma and Trey; son, Brett Tucker of Urbandale; and daughter, Paige (Jeff) Wallace of Waukee and children Daphne and Ivy. Cindy is also survived by her brother, Steve Carlson of Stanton; sister, Sue (Scott) Geer of Stanton; and sister, Carrie (Brian) Rinehart of Anamosa; along with innumerable aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. And, last but perhaps not least, by the family pet and Cindy’s long-time friend, the household cat Stella. Cindy was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Joy (Burnison) Carlson, as well as brothers Rick Carlson and Gary Carlson.

Services for Cindy will be conducted by and at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Winterset, with a visitation (with the family present) from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, April 21, and a funeral ceremony at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, April 22, followed by burial in Winterset Cemetery; with a luncheon being offered at the First United Methodist Church in Winterset (309 East Jefferson Street) immediately following the funeral ceremony and burial on Saturday. Memories of Cindy can be shared on the Caldwell Parrish website (https://www.caldwellparrish.com), and, for those who choose to do so, donations in Cindy’s memory can be made to the Winterset Community Education Foundation (P.O. Box 30, Winterset, Iowa 50273) or to LifeServe Blood Center (https://www.lifeservebloodcenter.org).

Finally, a note on the love of a grandmother: More than anything else in the world, and especially at this stage of her life, Cindy dearly loved her grandchildren – currently eight in total, ranging in age from one to eleven years old – and was so looking forward to continuing to watch them grow up, all the while remaining an active and nurturing presence in their lives. The thought of this idyllic interlude coming to such an abrupt and unexpected end is almost more than her family can bear. But while Cindy’s passing has altered the physical proximity to her grandchildren, we take comfort in the belief that it will never extinguish the unique and abiding spirit which animated the special relationship she shared with each and every grandchild; and in the knowledge that Cindy will continue to love and nurture her grandchildren from afar – albeit, now and forever, from a different but no less privileged vantage point.