Sarah Jane Persinger

Sarah Jane Persinger, 77, of Hornick, Iowa passed away Monday, February 2, 2026 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, surrounded by her family.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the Hornick United Methodist Church, Hornick, Iowa with Pastor Catie Newman and Pastor Gary DeGeest, officiating. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Sarah’s obituary. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. Burial will be held at a later date in the Grant Township Cemetery, rural Ticonic, Iowa. Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the Hornick United Methodist Church in Hornick.  Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Sarah Jane was born on August 20, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Arnold and Velma (Carter) Grell. She spent her childhood growing up on the family dairy farm, surrounded by the love of her family and the rhythms of farm life. Sarah graduated from Maple Valley High School, Mapleton, Iowa, with the class of 1967.  She worked as a waitress at Timber Ridge for ten years, where she was known for her dedication and friendly presence.

Sarah Grell and Rex Persinger were married on December 16, 1988, in Hornick. Throughout their marriage, Sarah took great pride in spending time alongside Rex helping on the farm, cherishing the work they shared together. The couple also spent many years traveling to Colorado, enjoying those trips together.

Sarah found joy in the simple pleasures of life, including spending quiet time reading, working on puzzles, and tending to the yard by mowing the lawn. She also enjoyed collecting wolf and dairy cow figurines. In addition, Sarah was a faithful member of the Hornick United Methodist Church, where she found comfort in her faith and community.

Survivors include her loving spouse, Rex Persinger of Hornick, Iowa; her children, Laura (Alan) McCully of Correctionville, Iowa, Jimmy (Michelle Nance) Wood of Sloan, Iowa, Jason (Karen) Wood of Mapleton, Iowa, Scott (Renee) Persinger of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Kerri Wood of Omaha, Nebraska; thirteen grandchildren, Josh, Sara, Cory, Ryan, Westley, Draven, McKayla, Bo, Summer, Braden, Alexander, Daniel, and Sawyer; many great-grandchildren; siblings, Butch Grell, Cora Howley, Eddie Grell, and Velma (Tina) Grell; sister-in-law, Luanne Grell; brother-in-law, Mark Persinger; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Velma (Carter) Grell; siblings, Bonnie (Ronny) Jacoby, Matt Grell, Willie Grell, and Katie Persinger; and niece, Brittany Meyer.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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