Antoinette “Ants” Kommes was born on October 20, 1956, to Tony and Elaine (Bengard) Kommes in Carroll, Iowa. Ants passed away September 1, 2026, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 69 years.
Ants and her siblings Jacquanette (Jackie), Douglas, and Bernadette (Bernie) were raised in Exira, Iowa. Growing up, Ants was lucky enough to share a backyard with her Bengard cousins. Ants attended Exira Community Schools and graduated with the class of 1975.
Following high school graduation, Ants attended Americana Beauty Academy in Des Moines, Iowa. Ants started her career working with her sister, Jackie, at Jackie’s Beauty Shop and later Hairbenders. Ants moved to Tucson, Arizona where she provided facials and body wraps at Canyon Ranch Spa. A few years later, Ants returned to Exira and purchased Hairbenders.
Hairbenders was a reflection of Ants’s passion for cosmetology, and this year, she celebrated 50 years in business. Her clients often spanned three generations of families, cutting and styling hair for grandparents, parents, and their children. All of the children that visited Hairbenders left with a Dum Dum sucker or two.
Hairbenders was not just a place to get a haircut. It also served as a place to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends or catch up on the latest news.
In addition to her passion for Hairbenders, Ants loved spoiling every generation of her nieces and nephews. She was always up for fun, whether it was riding the Tilt-A-Whirl on the Fourth of July or endless hopscotch on the sidewalk.
Ants traveled with family and friends and was an avid volunteer. She had the opportunity to volunteer on numerous Honor Flights with Patriotic Productions, helping veterans visit the memorials in Washington, D.C. Throughout her life, she enjoyed taking photos and left captions on the back of each photo in her signature handwriting.
Ants is preceded in death by her grandparents Frank and Elizabeth Kommes, and Lou and Annette Bengard; parents Tony and Elaine Kommes; her brother Douglas Kommes; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Ants is survived by her sisters Jacquanette Wahlert and Bernadette (John) Kilworth; nephews Jeff (Julie) Wahlert, Brad (Debbie) Wahlert, and Jason (Amy) Wahlert; nieces Bridgette (Brad) Johnson and Gretchen Kilworth (Andrew Rudolphi); great nieces and nephews Jessica (Brent) Elliott, Meaghan (Mike) Irlbeck, Hannah Wahlert, Morgan Wahlert (Cade Cunningham), Kade Wahlert, Grant Johnson, Violet Johnson, and Graham Johnson; and great-great nieces and nephews Analise Elliott, Jake Elliott, Norah Irlbeck, Rylie Irlbeck, Walter Irlbeck, and Maren Irlbeck; and other relatives and friends.
A celebration of life gathering will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Exira Event Center, in Exira. This will be a come and go gathering with sharing of memories at 6:00 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the following in memory of Ants: Exira Legion, Exira Fire Department, and Patriotic Productions. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.
Services are entrusted with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Exira.
