"Very sorry for your loss. May God comfort you with many memories. Debbie was in the class one ahead of mine at Essex HS many years ago. Deepest sympathy for her family and friends at this loss. Faye Simpson"
In loving memory of
Debra "Deb" K. Comstock
December 21, 1953 - January 5, 2019
Debra Kay was the first born to Clayton and Mary (Nelson) Johnson on December 21, 1953. She was born in St. Louis, MO while Clayton was stationed there in the Coast Guard. She grew up in Essex, Iowa and became the big sister of Randy and Vicki. She attended Fremont Lutheran Church all of her life.
While attending Essex Community School (K-12) she was involved in band, basketball, softball, Pep Club, Annual Staff. She graduated with the class of 1972. She was a Brownie and in the 4-H Pierce Pinnette Club. After high school she attended Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, IA and after graduating returned to Essex.
Deb was married to Terry Comstock on 08-01-81 for 29 years in an outdoor wedding on the parsonage lawn. They were blessed with a daughter, Sara and son, Andy. She enjoyed attending all of their activities growing up with school and church.
After working in banking and office settings she discovered the Tea Room in Stratford, IA where she enjoyed waitressing and helping out where needed. From Stratford she moved to Iowa City, IA and loved helping out with her new grandchildren. While there she worked security at the Iowa Hawkeye home football games.
Omaha then became her home for a couple of years while helping care for her Dad. She was a "Lunch Lady" during the school year for Omaha Public Schools. She volunteered and enjoyed the Bunco group.
The last three years she enjoyed living back at the farm she grew up on. She reconnected with classmates and old friends while meeting new friends at her job at the Shenandoah Medical Center cafeteria.
Deb enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling to Puerto Vallarta, MX-Jamaica-Cruise to the Bahamas, volunteering, reading, watching any NBA game, Kansas City Chiefs, Iowa Hawkeye, the Essex Labor Day weekends, holidays, shopping, gardening, baking with the Grandkids and playing games.
Her greatest joy, of course, was her Grandchildren, Abram, Stella and Isabel Livermore. She was excited for the fourth grandchild due in April.
She was touched by the support she received after her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We, her family, are overwhelmed with the love and support following her stroke in October. Deb passed away at the Taylor House in Des Moines, IA. She was cared for and loved by all there which we are so grateful for.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Mary and brother Randy.
Deb is survived by her daughter: Sara and Son-in-Law Joshua Livermore, Sweet Grandchildren: Abram, Stella and Isabel Livermore of Norwalk, IA: Son Andy of Coon Rapids, MN: Sister Vicki and Brother-in-Law Chris Maher from Omaha, NE: Her God Mother and Aunt Beulah Johnson of Ames, IA; Aunt Jean Nelson of Red Oak, IA: Cousins Alan Johnson and Linda (Johnson) Hefley of Ames, IA, Christy (Nelson) Watkins of Clarinda and Tracy (Nelson) White of Ponce Inlet, FL.
Celebration of life funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at the Fremont Lutheran Church in Nyman, Iowa.
Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah, Iowa.
Burial will be held at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Nyman, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Shenandoah Food Pantry or the American Cancer Society-Hope Lodge in Omaha, Nebraska.
Tributes
"So sorry to see about Deb's passing I just seen her in 2016 for my brother's Alan Kirchert's benefit party in Red Oak Iowa, her folks were good friends with my folks Phyllis and Raymond Kirchert and grandma Minnie Johnson. my thoughts are with you Teresa Kirchert Reitzler"
"Sara,Andy and families,we are so sorry to hear of Deb's passing. Many fond memories of our kids growing up together and Deb and I playing Women's volleyball,we weren't very good but we had a lot of fun! Prayers for you all and may your Mother Rest In Peace, Larry and Kelly Young"
"She had such a great smile. I truly enjoyed seeing her in the cafeteria at SMC. Prayers to her family. She was a joy to know. "
"It was such a joy seeing Deb each day and joking around with her. I truly miss her and will always remember her with a smile. May God bless her family in this time of sadness."
"I played Bunco with Deb. She was so fun and lighthearted when she was playing. Always so nice. She will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to her family and friends. "
"I knew Deb in high school and got the opportunity to work with Deb again at Shenandoah Medical Center. I loved her "quirky" sense of humor. She was a delight to work with and I miss her Happy Shining Smile! Rest in Peace Deb! "
"I went to school with Deb and she was the sweetest and kindest girl I had ever met. I am sure she will be sorely missed by her family and friends. May God welcome her into His kingdom and give her family comfort and peace in the coming days. Rest well Deb"
"To all of Deb's family, we send prayers and hugs. She was a beautiful lady and will be missed by many. She was always so fun to visit with at CDS, Babe's Cafe or on the street corner. God Rest her soul!"