Ruth Mary Christoffer Carlsen

CARLSEN, CHRISTOFFER, FRANK, ROWLEY, MEIDLINGER, VOGEL, DAY

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 7/2/2009 at 13:11:21

Ruth Mary Christoffer Carlsen passed away on July 5th, 2006, at 6:00 am. She was born in Milwaukee, WI, on February 21, 1918 to Carl Severin and Lydia Diefenthaler Christoffer. Ruth grew up in Chicago, Mason City, and Minneapolis. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in journalism with honors and after graduation was appointed assistance to the Dean of Women and a year of post-graduate studies. She married G. Robert Carlsen on April 5, 1941 in Minneapolis, MN. They moved with their growing family to Boulder, CO, Austin, TX and Iowa City. She and her husband, Bob, were residents of Iowa City since 1958. Bob was a professor of English and Education at the University of Iowa. He died on December 13, 2003.

A noted author of eight children’s books, Ruth was included in the Iowa Writers Walk. She also assisted her husband and was an editor for one of his 8 volume highschool literature anthologies published by McGraw Hill. She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority, P.E.O. Chapter E, Athens Book Club, National PEN WOMEN, and the Unitarian Universalist Society.

Survivors include her two sons, Christopher Carlsen and his wife Ioanna of Santa Fe, NM , and Peter Carlsen and his wife Sylvia Frank of St. Paul, MN; two daughters, Kristin Rowley of Santa Fe, and Jane Meidlinger and her husband Dr. John Meidlinger of Grand Island, NE; eight grandchildren: Clea, Tasio, Wim, Kristoffer, Robin, Michaela, Peter and Talia; and 4 great grandchildren: Michael, Finn, Kate and Atticus. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, her brother Forton, and her sister Mildred Vogel. She is survived by her sister Alpha Mae Day.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 10 S. Gilbert, Iowa City, IA on Friday, July 7, at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City. Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service. Online condolences may be direced to www.lensingfuneral.com by clicking on obituaries.

Ruth reveled in the adventures of life – embracing the unexpected, with a rare gift that made the ordinary extraordinary. She made quilts, wrote books, edited lessons, cooked dinners, played cards and balanced the books. She made friends with a smile and things happen, from trips around the world to beautiful garden.

Ruth found the magic in life.