Debra M. Puhl , 62, of Le Mars, Iowa died at a Sioux City hospital May 10, 2019.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 16, 2019 at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church in Le Mars.  Father Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass.  Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars.  Visitation with the family present will be after 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at St. Joseph Church in Le Mars.  There will be a Parish Rosary at 5:00 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Thursday at the church.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.  Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

In lieu of flowers, the family has designated memorials to Gehlen Catholic Schools Endowment Fund, Mission Honduras Le Mars and Shelby County Iowa Bicycle Trails.

Debra Mary Kloewer was born on February 9, 1957 to James and Rita (Mumm) Kloewer in Harlan, Iowa. She grew up in Panama, Iowa, attended St. Mary's Catholic grade school of Panama and graduated from Harlan Iowa High School in 1975. She obtained an accounting degree in 1979 from Morningside College in Sioux City and in 1980 passed the national Uniform CPA examination to become a Certified Public Accountant.

She started her accounting career after college working at Nichols, Rise & Company CPA firm in their South Sioux City, NE and Sioux City offices. She later worked in Le Mars as an accountant for 2 local CPA firms, a large grain storage construction company and 2 auto dealerships before joining her husband in 1990 to establish Puhl & Associates, PC CPA firm in Le Mars. She took great pride working remotely with her family's trucking business of Panama Transfer in her hometown of Panama, Iowa.

She married Nick Puhl on November 22, 1980 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. After building their first home on an acreage at rural Struble, Iowa, she was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Struble, serving in liturgical roles, guitarist and parish accountant. Her Catholic faith was very important to her and for her family. She took great peace from participating in the All Saints Parish's perpetual adoration program. She volunteered at Gehlen Catholic Schools in Le Mars and was treasurer of the school's Fine Arts Boosters for many years. She had also served on the Diocese of Sioux City Priest Pension Board.

Deb enjoyed following her children's school and college activities and traveling across the country to visit them, including a trip of a lifetime to Ireland. She cherished her annual gatherings with long-time college friends from Morningside's Wong Wing dorm floor. She enjoyed riding her bicycle, was active in the Plymouth County Cyclists and participated on 13 RAGBRAI rides with her family. Deb and Nick together compiled history books for the Struble town centennial celebration in 1990 and the Struble Catholic parish centennial celebration in 2003.

She is survived by her husband and their 4 children: Emily Puhl (friend Brian Chang) of Oakland, CA, Erin Puhl (husband Andrew Smith) of Washington, DC, Kevin Puhl (friend Brette Dowson) of Des Moines, IA, David Puhl of Indianapolis, IN; Her parents, James & Rita Kloewer of Panama, IA; Her 5 siblings: Cynthia (Joseph) Connolly of Council Bluffs, IA, Daniel (Carol Stessman) Kloewer of Omaha, NE, Dean (Colleen) Kloewer of Panama, IA, William (Janet) Kloewer of Johnston, IA, and Ramona (Mark) Crall of Panama, IA; Her sister-in-law Mary Smith of Sioux City, brother-in-law Patrick Puhl of rural Struble and sister-in-law Eileen (Curtis) Hora of rural Irene, SD; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents-in-law Robert & Roseen Puhl and brother-in-law Roger Smith.