Noreen Lupardus

Noreen Lupardus, age 85, of Carroll, IA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at Regency Park in Carroll.

Funeral services will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, November 24, 2025 at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll with Rev. Angelo Luis officiating.

Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll on Monday from 4 – 6 P.M. prior to service.

A private family graveside service will be held at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Casket bearers will be her grandsons Jeremy Lupardus, Jacob Yearington, Liam Bald, Will Lupardus, Carter Kovarna, and Weston Lupardus.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Noreen was born to Marietta (Novalle) and Norval Ulrich in Sumner, Illinois on May 28, 1940. The family ventured the country as her parents played in folk bands. She and her sister, Norma, grew up tapping along to the beat and found their love of music through these childhood travels. Eventually the family found their home in Des Moines, Iowa where Noreen graduated from East High School.

At the age of 19, she went on a blind double date with a charming farmer named William “Bill” Lupardus. They married in June of 1960. The two settled in Audubon County as they built their farm and raised cattle and hogs along with growing corn and soybeans. The couple created a loving home for their children and were known for being the life of the party.

In 1973, Bill tragically passed in a car accident leaving Noreen widowed with five children and a farm to manage. She persevered through this loss and eventually went to school for two degrees in Human Services at Buena Vista University and English Journalism from Northwest Missouri State University. She was a lifelong learner and fierce advocate for education.

Her career experience spanned from domestic violence prevention, resource support for those with mental illnesses, and community engagement. She spent many years as the Daily Times Herald’s Lifestyle Editor and then as the Executive Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Carroll. She received two first place writing honors from the Iowa Press Woman in 1991.

She enjoyed spending her summers at The Cottonwood Cove Marina and RV Resort, a camping and live music venue founded by her two sons. Noreen loved to go for a golf cart ride along the Missouri River and listening to music.

Noreen’s appreciation of genealogy, holidays, travel, and family recipes lives on through her meticulous record keeping and safely kept photographs. It was not easy letting her light go, but to know she will be with her husband Bill again, after 52 years, is a blessing beyond words. Her smile, compassion, and humor will be dearly missed.

Her senior year ambition was to, “climb life’s ladder, achieve wisdom, charity, and maturity with every step.” It is safe to say she achieved this. The memories she made while doing so will live on through her family, friends, and loved ones.

She is survived by her children Linda (Jeff) Yearington of Cleveland, Missouri, Mike Lupardus of Blair, Nebraska, Steve Lupardus of Blair, Nebraska, Deb Lupardus of Carroll, Iowa, and Diane (Jeff) Bald of Sioux City, Iowa; sister Norma Wilkerson of Portland, Oregon; twelve grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill Lupardus and a brother who died in infancy.

The family would like to thank all the health care providers that provided quality and compassionate care of Noreen.