M. Joan Soucek 1929 - 2003

SOUCEK, JONES, NEAL

Posted By: Marguerite (email)
Date: 9/2/2003 at 14:57:37

M. Joan Soucek, a longtime resident of Iowa City, died on Thursday, 21 August of complications from a lengthy illness. She was 74.

Born in Cedar Rapids and raised in Williamsburg, Ms. Soucek lived in Des Moines and Sioux City before settling in Iowa City in 1959.

Ms. Soucek had a robust career at various area academic institutions, working at the University of Iowa's Department of Sociology, the Division of Continuing Education at the Medical School and the Division of Continuing Education at Kirkwood College.

At the age of 50, Ms. Soucek took a hiatus from her career to pursue a BA in Third World Studies at the University of Iowa, graduating with honors in 1983.

Ms. Soucek then returned to work at the University of Iowa, working as an Administrator at the Student International Center, the Childhood Development Clinic, and at the School of Journalism up until her retirement in 1995.

Ms. Soucek was an omnivorous reader and passionate fan of music, especially the "jazz greats." A progressive thinker who was ahead of her time, she was the single parent of four children, and was active in politics through the early 1970s.

She is survived by her siblings, Peg Day of Marshalltown, Janet Thompson of Wichita, Kansas, and Thomas Jones and Cari Malone of Iowa City; her children, Sarah Stephens of Highland Park, Illinois, Mark Savage of San Ramon, California, Bennett Savage of Fairfax, Virginia and Paul Soucek of New York, New York; two step children, Mary Soucek of Iowa City, Iowa and John Soucek of Minneapolis, MN; five Grandchildren, Susannah Maldonado, Elisabeth Henry, Matthew Klein and Jon and Julia Savage, and three Great Grandchildren, Nicholas and Sofia Maldonado, and Olivia Henry.

A memorial Service for Joan will be held at 2PM on Saturday, 13 September at the Welsh United Church of Christ, 4401 Sharon Center Road Southwest, 319-338-4862.

Additional information can be obtained from Lensing Funeral Service, 319-338-8171.

In lieu of flowers, Ms. Soucek requested that donations can be made to either the Emma Goldman Clinic or Iowa City Hospice.