Faye Jungman

Faye Lynne Jungman, born October 1, 1938, in Winterset, Iowa, to Clarence and Mildred (Milly) Mapes, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2024, at the age of 86. 

Faye grew up on a farm in Lincoln Township, Madison County, IA. She attended Harvard Country School and recalled walking to school on mud roads and occasionally getting a ride by horseback. After sixth grade, she moved to the farm her parents purchased in Jefferson Township in Madison County. She graduated from DeSoto High School in 1956 and had many fond memories of this time. Her fondest memory was playing basketball where she excelled as a defensive player in the six-on-six women’s game that Iowa was long known for.

On January 25, 1958, Faye married John Jungman, Jr., beginning a partnership that spanned decades. Together, they raised four children: John (Christy), Teresa, Lisa, and Richard (Ana). Faye was also a very proud grandmother to eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. During the 70s, she and John purchased two farms in Jefferson Township where they built a new life for them and their family. This brought her back to within a mile of the farm where she grew up. They raised corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cattle. They would both tell you that the real work was definitely the cow/calf operation.

A dedicated professional, farmer and mother, Faye worked in farm underwriting at Farm Bureau in West Des Moines while contributing to many afterhours working on the family farm. She also enjoyed traveling around her immediate area for fun events, into parts of the Midwest, and visiting friends and family near and far. Faye never missed a holiday, special occasion or birthday and she put thought and love into her gifts and cards. It was definitely a labor of love and showed us all how important and impactful a kind word or act of remembrance truly is. She was a member of the Red Hats and Sisters of the Pythian clubs and found joy in her many hobbies. Faye was an avid reader of any medium, but especially loved to share and swap books. A good mystery really held her interest. She loved gardening and planting flowers, playing cribbage, completing the New York Times daily crossword puzzle, going out to lunch and hitting the occasional garage sales for hidden gems. Faye took the role of Grandma to heart. As Grandma, she is remembered fondly for spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with love, home-cooked meals, learning opportunities, memorable adventures, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies from the freezer and more than an occasional indulgence at Frostee’s for ice cream.

Faye loved watching any of the four Iowa universities' basketball teams’ games. Recently, she became an Indiana Fever fan following their drafting of Caitlin Clark. We will miss her calls asking what time and channel the games were going to be on. Faye also had a deep love for animals, taking care of all kinds of critters over her life. She especially had a fondness for her many cats and dogs over the years. We are sure Wimpy aka Wonder Dog, Kuda, Big Boy and Pumpkin are glad to have her back taking care of them! Faye had a love for angels and had quite a collection gifted from family and friends alike. We take comfort in the knowledge that she is now flying with the angels and still watching over and taking care of us, just as she did so well here on earth.

Faye’s life was marked by her unwavering love for family and friends, her incredible grit and her quiet strength. She will be forever cherished and greatly missed by all who were blessed to know her. Faye was preceded in death by her mother and father, Clarence and Mildred Mapes, and her husband, John Jungman, Jr.

She is survived by her children, John (Christy) Jungman, III, Teresa Essex, Lisa Cretsinger, and Richard (Ana) Jungman; as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A Visitation will be held on Sat. Jan. 25th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset, IA, with the Mass beginning at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to Spurgeon Manor to honor the exemplary and kind care they provided. Faye was right: there are true angels working here on Earth. Cards and donations can be mailed to 221 Locust St., Van Meter, IA 50261.