Obituary of Jill Corinne Tenold

Jill Corinne Tenold of West Liberty, Iowa passed away after a lengthy health battle on March 17, 2026.

Jill, the third child of Geraldine Priem Tenold and Vern Tenold, was born just after midnight on April 1, 1954. Her mother had been told to expect a boy, but Jill's arrival on April Fool's Day proved to be a delightful and cherished surprise.

During her early years, she lived in several communities-including Mason City; Carpenter, Iowa; Fargo, North Dakota; and Waterloo, Iowa-due to her father's work. Most of her school years were spent in Waterloo before the family made their final move to West Liberty, Iowa, during her sophomore year of high school. This move marked her first experience with country life on a farm. Jill had a deep love for art and creativity. She enjoyed embroidery kits and created many beautiful pieces, some of which earned first-place ribbons at the Muscatine County Fair. She also expressed her artistic talents through painting and sculpture during her school years. Her interests included horses, owls, astronomy, and psychology.

Her teenage years were filled with school activities, helping her sister and mother in the garden and with canning, sewing her own clothes, assisting a neighbor with cleaning, and traveling with her family to church conventions in the fall, from Alaska and California to Florida.

Graduating from West Liberty High School in 1972, she was a proud member of the National Honor Society and demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, ranking third in her class, just behind the salutatorian. She had hoped to become a physician's assistant, but such opportunities were not available at that time. She also helped her father, alongside her sister, prepare the manuscript for his family ancestral book.

Jill loved music, especially from the 1970s, and over two decades she attended many concerts with her mother and sisters, Gerine and Lori.

Her first employment, which lasted 17 years, was with Louis Rich Foods Company, one of the few employers in the area, where she worked alongside her close friends Ana and Annette. After a brief move to New Brunswick, Canada, she began her second career in the early 1990s with National Computer Systems, working in the editing department for SAT testing until 2005, when health issues required her to retire.

Jill shared an apartment with her sister Gerine for many years. Following her sister's passing, she remained there for a total of 43 years until her move to the Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Center.

 Jill was preceded in death by her parents, Geraldine and Vern Tenold; her sister, Gerine; and her brother, Bruce Tenold. She was also preceded in death by her grandparents, Ina and Lincoln Priem, and Minda and Henry Tenold of Carpenter, Iowa, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Jill is survived by her brother; Mark Tenold (Shanna) of Burns, Tennessee; her sister, Lori Tenold of West Liberty, Iowa; her nephew, Joshua Tenold (Jennifer) and their sons Gavin (Elizabeth), Hayden (Stacy), and Sage; Matthew Tenold all of Alabama; her nephew, Corey Tenold (Ashlee) of Los Angeles, CA; many cousins; and her special friend, Ana of California.

Jill's memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved her, and she rests now in peace.

Following cremation, a private burial will take place at a later date in the First Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar, IА.

Memorials can be given to "West Liberty and Rural township Fire and EMS Association"

Special thanks to the staff of lowa City Rehabilitation Center, Sylvia, and Suncrest Hospice- especially Liz, Penny, and Sela-for their compassionate care.