Claire Pudenz of Carroll, IA, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved her dearly.
The chapters of her life were many; these are some of them.
Claire spent her working life as ['x-ray tech at St'] — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Some legacies are not written; they walk the earth, named after those who came before.
Claire Pudenz, 94, of Carroll, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at St. John Paul II Parish – St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. Father Patrick Behm will be the Celebrant and Father Craig Collison will concelebrate. The Gift Bearers will be Laura Hackfort, Paula Meiners, Paige Luft and Makayla Kies. Casket Bearers are Neil Hackfort, Shaun Meiners, Matthew Pudenz, Patrick Pudenz, Alan Kies and Jacob Luft. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Thursday at the church prior to the Mass.
Funeral Arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Claire's family at www.sharpfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to St. Anthony Nursing Home and St. Anthony Hospice.
Claire Louise, daughter of Albert and Irene (Lunda) Marks, was born June 7, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois. At the age of 10, Claire moved to Moquah, Wisconsin, with her mother and stepfather Jerry Novack. She grew up on a dairy farm and enjoyed tending a large garden. Claire graduated with the class of 1949 from Ondossagon High School in Ashland.
After graduation, Claire boarded a bus and moved to St. Francis School of Nursing in LaCrosse and received her diploma in x-ray technology. She then traveled to Carroll, Iowa to start her career as an x-ray tech at St. Anthony Hospital in 1968.
Claire then met the love of her life, John Pudenz, and the couple was united in marriage on May 31, 1952. Three children, Michael, Richard and Susan, were born to this couple and they made their home on a farm just north of Carroll. John died very unexpectedly shortly after Susan was born. Claire eventually moved into a home in Carroll. In 1992, Claire retired from St. Anthony Hospital but continued to work with Dr. Paulus until 2008. She then worked at the Carroll Health Center until she was 86 years old.
Claire is survived by a son Michael and wife Patty Pudenz; a son-in-law Paul Roeder; several grandchildren: Laura (Neil) Hackfort, Paula (Shaun) Meiners, Matthew Pudenz, Patrick (Sarah) Pudenz, Makayla (Alan) Kies, and Paige (Jacob) Luft; great-grandchildren: Kyler, Madyson, Olivia, Kolton, Kora, Sawyer and Greyson.
She was preceded in death by her husband John, mother Irene, stepfather Jerry, a son Richard, a daughter Susan and a grandson Cody.
