Susan “Sue” Marie Roeder, age 61, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away peacefully by her daughters, holding both of their hands exactly the way she would have wanted at the UnityPoint-Health St. Lukes Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in the St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Odebolt, Iowa, with Rev. Deacon Butch Stone officiating.
A Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 5:45 p.m., on Monday, December 15, 2025, in the St. Martin’s Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa.
The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa, is in charge of the Memorial arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com
Born on November 14, 1964, Sue lived a life marked by strength, love, and a stubborn determination that made her unforgettable. To know Sue was to love her. She had a way of making people feel welcomed, supported, and seen. Her warmth, humor, and fierce loyalty touched every life she encountered.
Growing up in Carroll, Iowa, Sue graduated from Kuemper Catholic School with the Class of 1983. Guided by a strong sense of purpose, she pursued her education in Nursing at Mount Marty, earning her RN/BSN and laying the foundation for a career defined by dedication and compassion.
In 1992, Susan began her professional journey at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa. Over the course of more than three decades, she distinguished herself through exemplary service, steadfast professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to patient care. Her work reflected not only clinical skill but a deep respect for the dignity of every individual she served.
Susan retired in 2023, concluding a career that left a lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and the broader community. Her life’s work stands as a testament to the values she embodied service, integrity, and a genuine devotion to the well-being of others.
Above all else, Sue was a devoted mother and proud grandmother. Her daughters and grandchildren were her greatest joy and the heartbeat of her life. She loved them through her presence, her protection, and a steady, comforting strength that carried her family through both the brightest and the hardest days through the loss of her 3-year-old son Cody.
On February 12, 1994, Sue married the love of her life, Paul Douglas Roeder, in Odebolt, Iowa. Their marriage was filled with deep love, loyalty, and the kind of everyday care that spoke louder than words. Paul was her steady companion, the one who stood beside her loving her with quiet strength and unwavering devotion.
Sue is survived by her husband Paul Douglas Roeder of Odebolt, IA; daughters MaKayla (Alan) Kies of Nevada, IA and Paige (Jacob) Luft of Ankeny, IA; grandchildren Sawyer and Greyson; mother Claire Pudenz of Carroll, IA; brother Mike (Patricia “Patty”) Pudenz of Carroll, IA; brother- in-law Dean (Dawn) Roeder; extended family and a host of friends.
She is welcomed into her heavenly home by her son Cody Hammond; father John Pudenz; brother Albert “Rick” Pudenz; and in-laws Mary Ann (Loren) Thies and George Roeder.
