Kandace Drees-Dunn

Kandace Rose Drees-Dunn, 56, died peacefully at her home on October 18, 2023 surrounded by family. A private service will take place in the future.

Kandace was born on June 6, 1967 in Carroll, Iowa to Phyllis and Vernon Drees.

"One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things," (The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse). Kandace reacted to her diagnosis of a brain tumor the way she approached most situations, with a smile and a plan of action. She and her husband, Pat, chose to look at this challenge as a gift. A gift of time spent with loved ones, a gift of conversations and laughs, a gift of acceptance. And when the end was near, the gift of gathering and supporting one another. They shared their journey with anyone who asked, always with an underlying tone of transparency and positivity.

Kandace was a thoughtful listener and a dedicated mother. A keen observer, she was always quick to notice small delightful things in everyday life. She radiated health, from her mental strength and mindfulness, her commitment to eat the cleanest food possible, to moving her body everyday. She loved clearing out the house for items to donate. She was a voracious eater of sugar snap peas. Her curly hair had a mind of its own in the humid summer air. Whenever there was down-time, she could whip up a list of chores before anyone had a chance to act busy. Her response to complaining was usually "suck it up, buttercup."

In lieu of flowers, cards, etc. she wanted anyone who heard her story to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Do something kind for someone else, go on a walk, bask in the joy, and live in the present!