Cody French

Cody French, 37, of Clinton, Iowa, passed away on November 17, 2025.

Cody was born April 6, 1988, in Clinton, Iowa, the son of Kenneth “KC” and Jodi (Smith) French. He grew up with the kind of small-town life that shaped him—time on the court playing basketball, days outdoors hunting and fishing, and pride in being part of the West Carroll FFA. Cody was sharp and quick-minded, and he excelled on the quiz bowl team. He had a way of seeing things others missed.

More than anything, Cody loved art. He was truly gifted—especially drawn to realism and the challenge of capturing life as it really is. His art reflected who he was at his best: thoughtful, observant, and deeply creative. Cody also loved animals and could lose himself in reading for hours.

In his teenage years, Cody began experimenting with drugs, and over time addiction became the battle that defined far too much of his story. After graduating high school in 2006, Cody enlisted in the United States Army and completed basic training—something his family will always remember with pride. But addiction does not fight fair, and despite many attempts, many hopes, and many promises that everyone wanted to believe, it pulled him away from stability and eventually into homelessness.

For a time, Cody lived on the streets of Clinton. Even there, he was not alone—he had a circle of friends in the homeless community who cared about him and looked out for him. His family never stopped pulling for him. They never stopped hoping. And they never stopped loving him.

Cody’s death is a tragedy, and it is also a painful reminder of how brutal addiction can be—especially for those who feel trapped inside it. Cody was not a bad person. He was a person who got caught in a bad situation with a powerful demon he could not outrun. If you are reading this and you are fighting addiction, or you love someone who is, Cody’s family hopes you will let his story push you toward help—real help—and toward one more attempt, one more call, one more day. Your life still matters.

From a father’s heart, this is what must be said: Cody was loved. Cody mattered. And Cody’s story includes more than his worst chapters. His family chooses to remember the boy who loved the outdoors, the young man who could light up with a pencil in his hand, the soldier who finished basic training, and the human being who—beneath the struggle—still had goodness in him.

Cody is now beginning anew. His family finds comfort in believing he is at peace, welcomed into heaven, and reunited with his mother, Jodi, who preceded him in death—along with his grandparents.

Cody is survived by his father, Kenneth “KC” French of Thomson, Illinois; his brother, Tyler (Catelynne) French of Mt. Carroll, Illinois and sister, Kacee (Joshua) Houston of Savanna; his beloved niece, Presley; along with extended family and many friends. Cody is preceded in death by his mother, Jodi French in 2021; grandparents, Gerry (Jeanette) Smith, Gene (Marolyn) French and Bud Opheim.

A private remembrance and graveside service will be held. Memorials may be directed to a local outreach or recovery organization serving those experiencing homelessness and addiction in Cody’s honor.