Cynthia Maier Lunning of Ames, Iowa, passed away from natural causes on January 6, 2026.

Cindy was born in Webster City, lowa, to Richard Maier and Wanda (Hemmen) Maier of Woolstock, lowa. The family moved to Eagle Grove when she was 5 years old. She graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1969 and the University of Northern Iowa in 1973. While living in Cedar Falls, she pursued graduate classes at UNI in developmental reading and instructional development.

On August 30, 1975, she married Steven E. Lunning of Mason City, lowa. They lived in Cedar Falls, Nevada, and Ames, lowa. Steven passed away in March 2012 from cancer.

Cindy was a junior high English teacher at Dike Community Schools and at Nevada Community Schools. She was later employed in Instructional Development at DMACC in Ankeny, Training Development at Bourns Inc. in Ames and finished her career at Story Construction Co. in Ames in 2012.

She then enjoyed spending time with her best friend, her dog Sable, who passed away in 2015 and her fourth adopted dog, Sammie, family members, especially nephews, Tate and Nate Maier and watching their activities, watching movies, playing computer solitaire, and helping support animal shelters and animal rescue groups.

Cindy was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Wanda Maier; her husband, Steven; her brother-in-law, Al Van Kley; and her rescue dogs, Dumpling, Taffy, Sable, and Sammie.

She is survived by sisters, Cathy Van Kley and Chris (Kevin) Brooks; brother, Tom (Rhonda) Maier; niece, Holly (Andre) Allen; nephews, Ryan (Kara) Brooks, Mitch (Emily) Van Kley, Tate Maier and Nate Maier; grand-niece, Caroline Van Kley; grand-nephews, Sullivan Brooks, Whitaker Brooks, Porter Van Kley and Carter Brooks; sister-in-law, Kathleen (Dennis) Oian; and nephews, Eric (Shelia) Oian, Kurt (Amy) Oian and Erin (Jamie) Oian Boyd.

She was cremated and buried with her dogs and husband, Steven, at Ankeny Memorial Gardens in Ankeny, Iowa. No memorial service was held, except for immediate family.

Memorials may be directed to one of Cindy's favorite chạrities: St Jude's Children's Hospital, Marine Toys for Tots, Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org), A Heinz57 Pet Rescue in DeSoto IA (AHeinz57.com), Cedar Valley Pit Bull Rescue (cvpbr.com), or Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary in Hermitage MO.