Judith Ann (Toillion) SALIER

TOILLION, SALIER, KILBOURN, WENCK, BROWN, TIMMERMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:50

Judith Ann Salier
July 8, 1941 ---- July 10, 2018

On Tuesday, July 10, 2018, Judith Ann Salier passed from this life at the age of 77 in Des Moines. Judi, daughter of Jim and Alberta (Kilbourn) Toillion, was born July 8, 1941, raised in Eagle Grove, and graduated in 1959 from Eagle Grove High School.

Judi lived in Eagle Grove working as a teller for Brenton Bank until 1970 then moved to Fort Dodge where she worked as a bank teller and at the women’s treatment center at NCARF. She lived in many Iowa towns: Badger, Carroll, Marshalltown, Osceola, Atlantic, Des Moines, Newton, and Monroe.

After experiencing a spiritual transformation in the mid-1970s, she felt called to work in law enforcement. She studied criminal justice at DMACC and from late 1977 through early 1979 worked as an undercover agent for the Des Moines Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She helped break up large-scale drug and gambling operations with the arrests of colorful figures, such as, Killer, Red, and Mr. Big. During the 1980s she worked as a correctional officer in two state prisons: Riverview Release Center in Newton and Iowa Correctional Facility for Women in Mitchellville.

Judi married Mike Salier in 1985; they lived in Newton and Monroe. In the early 1990s she worked as director of the Newton Animal Rescue League and was known as the “Cat Lady” because she took home the “strays” no one wanted. At one point, she owned two horses, three dogs, and more than 20 cats on her small acreage outside of Monroe. Her last fifteen years of work were split between working security at Prairie Meadows and check-point security at the Iowa State Capitol.

Judi lived her life unapologetically independent, colorful and spirited. She was kind, compassionate but often challenged the status quo, and you always knew where she stood. In 2007 Judi was diagnosed with mild dementia and moved back to Des Moines in 2010. She spent her final year experiencing the loving care of the wonderful staff at Edencrest at River Woods.

Judi was preceded in death by her parents, husband Mike and infant children (Mollie and Scott). Survivors include her children: Tom Wenck (Laura) of West Des Moines, John Wenck (Sandy) of Des Moines; brothers: Jim Toillion (Jean) of Eagle Grove, John Toillion (Diana) of Honolulu, Hawaii; and sister, Jane Brown (JR) of Graettinger; as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent to the Animal Rescue League of Des Moines or Hospice of Central Iowa.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 20, 2018, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Brooks South Town Chapel, 7601 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321. Pastor Ron Kallem is officiating.

http://www.foustfh.com/obituaries/Judith-Salier/#!/Obituary

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[1st marriage to Jerry Timmerman; 2nd marriage to Robert Wenck; 3rd marriage to Mike Salier;]