Judith Nye, age 81, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Highlands in Decorah, Iowa.

Celebration of life will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101. Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate the remarkable life of a woman who gave so much love to so many.

Judy Bowstead Nye was born on March 4, 1945, in Lowden, Iowa, to Dr. Warren and Pauline Bowstead. Judy lived in Cedar Rapids and Decorah throughout her life and built a life centered around family, education, faith, friendship, and kindness.

Judy was united in marriage to Kenn Nye Jr., her husband of 39 years, who survives her. She is also survived by her daughter, Carrie Courtney (Kelly); stepson, Tim Nye (Stephanie); grandchildren, Blake Holthaus (Gina), Brooks Courtney, Lydia Nye, Eliza Nye, and Mitchell Nye; and great-grandchildren, Landon Holthaus and Parker Holthaus. She is also survived by her sisters, Kathy (Warren) Chapman and Jane Forbes; her brother, Steve Bowstead; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Warren and Pauline Bowstead.

For more than 40 years, Judy devoted herself to education as a member of the Education Department at Luther College. Teaching was more than a career for Judy—it was an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Her kindness, compassion, and genuine interest in people left a lasting impression on generations of students and colleagues.

Judy was truly one of the kindest souls you could ever meet. She loved visiting with friends, sharing memories, and, most of all, keeping up with the lives and adventures of her family. She took great joy in hearing about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, celebrating their accomplishments, following their progress in school, and simply being part of their lives.

She was an avid Iowa State Fair goer for many years and looked forward to the traditions, memories, and time spent there. She was also an active member of her church, where her faith and love for others were an important part of her life.

To her grandchildren, Judy was much more than a grandmother. She was their biggest supporter, their encourager, and someone they could always count on. She loved us more deeply than we may have ever fully realized, and her presence had a way of making each person feel important, loved, and cared for.

Judy leaves behind a lifetime of memories, countless lives touched through her years in education, and a family who will carry her love and kindness with them for generations to come. Her greatest legacy will not be found in the things she accomplished, but in the people she loved and the lives she made better simply by being in them.