FUNERAL SERVICES FOR JOHN WERDEN HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THURSDAY AT 10:30 A.M. DUE TO THE WEATHER. THANK YOU.
John Chase Werden, Jr., 69, of Carroll, died unexpectedly in Des Moines, Iowa, on March 13th, 2025.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025, at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Patrick Behm with Father Brian Feller Concelebrating. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and the St. John Paul II Choir. Lector will be Ron Eich. Gift Bearers will be Emmy Onken, Ivy Onken and Ruby Werden. Casket Bearers are: Craig Schrader, Aaron Ahrendsen, Jon Cretsinger, Ron Eich, Tom Fransen, Mark McCrea, Jim Mullin, Ken Pingrey, Joel Roetman and Curt Steger. Honorary Casket Bearer is Joe Tilley. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll at a later date.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Wednesday morning where additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for John’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
John was born on January 11th, 1956, in Maquoketa, Iowa, to John Chase Sr. and Evelyn (Darling) Werden. John graduated from Albia High School, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Grinnell College in 1979, and ultimately pursued his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Drake University School of Law, graduating in 1984.
On May 28th, 1988, he was united in marriage to Renee Rupiper at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. They made their home in Carroll and raised three children: Chase, Meredith, and Madison.
John was an experienced trial lawyer and mainly practiced in life and estate planning, tax planning, trust, probate, elder law, real estate and commercial transactions. John served as the Carroll County Attorney from 1998 until his death.
John served in many positions throughout his career, including Past President of the Iowa County Attorneys Association, the National Leadership Council for Fight Crime Invest in Kids, the Judicial Nominating Commission, the Jury Instruction Committee, and the Board of Governors for the Iowa Bar Association, the National District Attorney Association, and most recently as President of the Iowa State Association of Counties. John received the Drake University School of Law Student Award in Taxation in 1983 and the State of Iowa Governor Volunteer Award in 1998. John served in the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps from 1988 to 1997 and was the Executive Officer for the Carroll Division: Marvin Shields Battalion, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. He was admitted to practice before the Iowa Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa and Southern District of Iowa, the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court.
John was an avid outdoorsman and firearms expert. He was also an excellent craftsman. He could design, scale, and build anything imaginable. John was a walking book of knowledge. John could do everything from politics to law, from architectural design to final projects, from knowing how a motor runs to fixing a boat. Additionally, he deeply appreciated fine art and displayed many pieces in his home.
More than anything, John loved his children and adored his grandchildren. He was very proud of his children and their accomplishments, especially that they were independent, strong, loving, and responsible adults. The family spent 30 years at Lake Okoboji, enjoying their time together and making memories. John was known for extending invitations to the lake to the kids’ friends, as he loved company and thought everyone deserved to experience his little piece of heaven on earth. Chase will miss their intellectual and thought-provoking conversations. John often said, “Small minds talk about people, average minds talk about things, and great minds talk about ideas.” Meredith will forever miss her dad’s wit, humor, wealth of knowledge, and the unwavering sense of security he provided throughout their lives. Madison will miss his life advice, patience, knowledge and guiding support. The grandkids will miss “going to the restaurant with Grandpa John.” John was most pleased that Chase, Meredith, and their spouses live and work in Carroll County. John had high hopes Madison would return to Carroll County someday.
John was fond of saying, “We never know the day, nor the hour,” when he provided council to those who sought it. Left to cherish his memories are his children, Chase (Megan) Werden, Meredith (Chris) Onken, and Madison Werden; five grandchildren, Emmy, Ivy, and Indy Onken, and Ruby and Peter Werden; his sister Toni Hudson; brothers Gary Werden and Jeff (Phyllis) Werden, and two nephews; Zach (Katie) Werden and Nate (Kylie) Werden.
John is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his mother, Evelyn Werden, in 1980; a brother, Craig Werden, in 1994; his father, John Chase Werden, Sr., in 2002; and his brother-in-law, Mark Hudson, in 2003.
