Randall Cordes

Randall Jon “Randy” "Woody" Cordes, 61, of Wellsburg, Iowa, passed away suddenly on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at his home in Wellsburg. A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at the Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, Engelkes Chapel in Grundy Center. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the hour of 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. is being reserved for those family and friends that are in our "most vulnerable, at risk age and health groups" general public memorial visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Randy was born on July 29, 1958 in Grundy Center, Iowa to his parents Kenneth and Glenda (Krull) Cordes. He lived most of his life in Wellsburg and graduated from Wellsburg High School. Upon graduation, Randy began working with his father in the family business, Cordes Plumbing, Heating and Hardware. He worked there for 20 years and then in 1997 he began working at Bacon Veneer in Grundy Center. When it closed, he worked at Norby’s Farm Fleet in Grundy Center until last year when his health problems forced him to retire.

Randy was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Nancy Strickler on June 10, 1978. The couple made their home in Wellsburg and welcomed their son Casey into their family on Christmas day 1978. The couple enjoyed just over 42 happy years of marriage.

As a young man in high school, Randy was quite an athlete. He played basketball, football, baseball and was excellent in track, earning medals in state track meets and setting many school records. In his younger years he enjoyed bowling and fishing. Randy was always an avid sports fan, he loved the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was involved in the men’s/couple’s leagues, played fast pitch softball for many years and enjoyed being a member of the Jolly Boys. He also really enjoyed being on the chain gang for the high school football games. Randy was a school board member for the Wellsburg Steamboat Rock High School and a member of the Wellsburg Community Club of which he was the President for a year. Randy’s true joy in life came from spending time with his friends and family, especially his granddaughters. He will be missed and long remembered by all who knew him.

Randy is survived by his mother Glenda Cordes; wife of 42 years Nancy Cordes; son Casey (Heidi) Cordes; granddaughters Kyra and Kaylene Cordes; sister Jodie (Steve) Gehrke; brothers Rob (Kathy) Cordes and Andy Cordes (his friend Tera Clement); aunt Shirley Van Deest and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Kenneth Cordes.