FOREST CITY — Daisy Huffman, 58, of Forest City, a longtime North Iowa city government leader who devoted decades to public service and cherished time with her children and grandchildren, passed away Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City following a short but aggressive battle with multiple sclerosis.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, at Schott Funeral Home, 505 North Clark Street in Forest City.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 20, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 660 Bush Avenue in Garner. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the Mass.
Burial will follow at approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery along Highway 18 in Garner.
Daisy May (Goodale) Huffman was born May 26, 1968, in Osage, Iowa, the oldest child of Dale and Gertie (Orvedal) Goodale. She graduated from Osage High School in 1986 before attending North Iowa Area Community College, where she studied accounting.
She married Brian Huffman on March 14, 1987, and they became parents to two children, Joshua and Aleesa, during their 10-year marriage. On February 14, 2007, Scott Bell entered Daisy’s life, along with his children, Ken and Allie.
Accounting and public service became major parts of Daisy’s professional life.
She spent approximately 10 years working in public accounting in Osage before moving to Garner, where she began a long career in municipal government. Daisy served for 20 years as Garner City Clerk, seven years as the part-time City Clerk of Goodell and, most recently, as Forest City’s City Administrator.
Her years in local government allowed her to develop friendships with colleagues across Iowa. She also became a mentor to other city clerks and willingly shared the governmental accounting knowledge she had accumulated through decades of experience.
Daisy was known for putting considerable time and energy into work she genuinely enjoyed, but her involvement in North Iowa communities extended well beyond the walls of city hall.
She helped serve meals at church funerals, prepared turkeys for Garner’s Thanksgiving event, volunteered at community fundraisers, helped coordinate concession stands at wrestling meets and participated in organizations serving city clerks.
Family remained at the center of her life.
Daisy made a point of attending the school activities and sporting events of her children and grandchildren whenever possible, with city council meetings sometimes providing the rare conflict.
Among her favorite memories were rides with Scott in his Mustang convertible, preparing holiday meals and spending time with her grandchildren.
During the challenges brought by multiple sclerosis and her stay at the Good Samaritan Society, Daisy formed additional friendships. Her family recalled one particularly special friend, known as Mr. DC, whose visits could reliably bring a smile to her face.
Cards, visits and companionship from family and friends helped brighten her final months. Her close friend Lisa was among those who regularly spent time with her, and Daisy’s family also expressed appreciation for the care provided by St. Croix Hospice.
Daisy is survived by her longtime companion and best friend, Scott Bell of Forest City; son Joshua (Heather) Huffman and their children, Justin and Abigail Huffman, of Osage; daughter Aleesa Schwartz and her children, Elaina, Adalynne and Victoria Schwartz, of Klemme; Ken (Libby) Bell and their son, Jack, of Garner; and Allie Bell and her daughter, Jamie, of Garner.
She is also survived by her siblings, Dale (Jill) Goodale of Osage, Dawn (Mike) Adams of Osage, Dana Kiefer (Shawn Lee) of Marble Rock and David (Tami) Goodale of Osage; foster brother Cody (Monica) Carlson of Osage; and many nieces and nephews.
Daisy was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Gertie Goodale, along with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other loved ones.
Those who knew Daisy are left with a message she wanted remembered during difficult and divided times: people have far more in common with one another than their differences might suggest.
SCHOTT FUNERAL HOMES is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
If you would like an obituary, remembrance or tribute story published in NIT, please email the details to NORTHIOWATODAY@GMAIL.COM. This is a free service.