Judy Kay Zager
October 3, 1942 — January 27, 2023
Judy Kay (Sampson) Bertrand Zager, age 80 of Pleasantville, died Friday, January 27, 2023 in Pella, Iowa. She was born October 3, 1942 in Los Angeles, California the first of two daughters of Norman Edward and Helen Marie (Kauzlarich) Sampson.
She was raised in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from East High School with the Class of 1961. Following high school, Judy was Deputy Clerk of Municipal Traffic Court in Des Moines. On January 28, 1964 she was united in marriage to Larry Joseph Bertrand. They were married 20 steps from her job, by her friend, Municipal Judge Ray Harrison. The couple made their home on the south side of Des Moines, before moving to Pleasant Hill. To this union two sons, Larry A. and Raymond, were born. Larry died May 15, 1973. Judy later married Jerry Zager and they made their home in Knoxville, Iowa. Together they had a son, Daniel, along with Jerry’s four children: Scott, Barbara, Michael and Maja.
Judy was active in the Knoxville community, having been a member of First Federated Study Club, St. Anthony Catholic Church, Altar & Rosary Society and numerous parent organizations, including the Knoxville Band Boosters. She also helped start the first Hospice organization in Knoxville and volunteered for years at what would become Hospice of Central Iowa. Judy was also recognized by then Governor Robert D. Ray for teaching C.P.R. classes. She worked at the family business, Bybee & Davis Funeral Home part time while the kids were young and later became the full-time office administrator.
In her spare time, Judy enjoyed hosting events at her home which usually included some competitive card and board games. She and Jerry also hosted an annual 4th of July party for dozens of family and friends. A fervent reader, Judy always had a new book and would read the Des Moines Register cover to cover every morning, no matter how many tasks needed to be completed that day. She was an unabashed cheese head and rarely missed a Green Bay Packers game and had been to games at Lambeau Field. To her family’s great benefit, Judy was an excellent cook. She also loved to eat out with a core group of raucous friends, which on occasion resulted in a restaurant manager asking the group to depart.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Helen; husband, Larry; son, Daniel Zager; step-daughter, Barbara Zager, daughter-in-law, B. Sue Zager and former husband Jerry Zager.
Those left to cherish Judy’s memory include Larry (Becky) Bertrand of St. Charles, Iowa, Ray Bertrand of Knoxville, Iowa, Scott Zager of New Mexico, Michael Zager of Prescott Valley, Arizona, Maja (Jim) McClarnon of Altoona, Iowa; sister, Diana (Ron) Carzoli of West Des Moines, Iowa; many grandchildren and extended family members and friends.
Memorials may be directed to the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation.
She was raised in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from East High School with the Class of 1961. Following high school, Judy was Deputy Clerk of Municipal Traffic Court in Des Moines. On January 28, 1964 she was united in marriage to Larry Joseph Bertrand. They were married 20 steps from her job, by her friend, Municipal Judge Ray Harrison. The couple made their home on the south side of Des Moines, before moving to Pleasant Hill. To this union two sons, Larry A. and Raymond, were born. Larry died May 15, 1973. Judy later married Jerry Zager and they made their home in Knoxville, Iowa. Together they had a son, Daniel, along with Jerry’s four children: Scott, Barbara, Michael and Maja.
Judy was active in the Knoxville community, having been a member of First Federated Study Club, St. Anthony Catholic Church, Altar & Rosary Society and numerous parent organizations, including the Knoxville Band Boosters. She also helped start the first Hospice organization in Knoxville and volunteered for years at what would become Hospice of Central Iowa. Judy was also recognized by then Governor Robert D. Ray for teaching C.P.R. classes. She worked at the family business, Bybee & Davis Funeral Home part time while the kids were young and later became the full-time office administrator.
In her spare time, Judy enjoyed hosting events at her home which usually included some competitive card and board games. She and Jerry also hosted an annual 4th of July party for dozens of family and friends. A fervent reader, Judy always had a new book and would read the Des Moines Register cover to cover every morning, no matter how many tasks needed to be completed that day. She was an unabashed cheese head and rarely missed a Green Bay Packers game and had been to games at Lambeau Field. To her family’s great benefit, Judy was an excellent cook. She also loved to eat out with a core group of raucous friends, which on occasion resulted in a restaurant manager asking the group to depart.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Helen; husband, Larry; son, Daniel Zager; step-daughter, Barbara Zager, daughter-in-law, B. Sue Zager and former husband Jerry Zager.
Those left to cherish Judy’s memory include Larry (Becky) Bertrand of St. Charles, Iowa, Ray Bertrand of Knoxville, Iowa, Scott Zager of New Mexico, Michael Zager of Prescott Valley, Arizona, Maja (Jim) McClarnon of Altoona, Iowa; sister, Diana (Ron) Carzoli of West Des Moines, Iowa; many grandchildren and extended family members and friends.
Memorials may be directed to the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation.
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