Trudy Workman

Trudy Irene Workman, age 79, of Mount Pleasant, formerly of Bonaparte, passed away on March 12, 2026, at her home in Mount Pleasant.

Born on January 21, 1947, in Wellman, Iowa, to Francis Perry Butterbaugh and Neomia Ina Hole Butterbaugh, Trudy grew up in Wellman and graduated from Mid Prairie High School in 1965. She went on to train at the Burlington Beauty Academy and worked as a beautician in Burlington, where she met Clarence E. Workman. The couple married on February 12, 1967, in Bonaparte.

After leaving the beauty shop, Trudy continued giving free haircuts from her home for many years. In the early 1980s she began working for Harmony Schools and later for the AEA in Ottumwa, where she remained until her retirement in 2014. During that time she also worked at Township Grocery and continued there even after retiring. Trudy found joy in playing bingo, watching Clarence fish, listening to music, solving trivia and word puzzles, volunteering, watching game shows, and observing birds. She was a morning regular at Hardee’s, where she enjoyed coffee and breakfast with her friends. Deeply involved in her community, she helped raise funds for the Bonaparte fireworks show each year and assisted in organizing the town’s holiday activities with Santa and the Easter egg hunt.

Trudy is survived by her son, Doug Workman (Kelly) of Burlington; her daughters, Kelley Kirchner (Darren) of Ballwin, Missouri, and Wendi Workman of Bonaparte; her brother, Rod Butterbaugh of Wellman; her sisters, Monica Babcock, Reene Butterbaugh, and Pamela Canott; her son-in-law, Joe Douthart of Bonaparte; six grandchildren, Galen Kirchner, Josie Douthart Poe (Justin), Isabelle Jarvis (Samuel), Jakob Wixom, Morgan Workman, DJ Workman, Jasper Dickson, and Riley Dehauge; and her great-grandchild, Jackilyn Douthart Poe, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence; brothers Richard and Cary Butterbaugh; and sisters Judy Pfeiffer and Neta Fowler.