Helen Louise Carroll Kottman
KOTTMAN, CARROLL, ERNST, SCHMIEDER, BOARDMAN, LARSEN, WOOD, OWENS, SLY, RODGERS
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 2/6/2022 at 07:40:00
Helen Louise Carroll Kottman, 96, passed away peacefully at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids on January 24, 2022.
Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm on Friday, February 4, 2022 at Lensing Funeral Home in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City. A private family burial will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Helen was born on August 27, 1925 in Aurelia, Iowa to Harrison and Mabel (Ernst) Carroll. Her father was a watchmaker which during the Great Depression, the jewelry industry lagged so the family moved to Atlantic, Iowa and that is where Helen and her two sisters were raised. Following high school graduation, Helen obtained her bachelor’s degree in 1949 from the University of Iowa, majoring in Physical Education and a minor in Biology.
On August 21, 1949, Helen married E. John Kottman. The couple moved to Osage where Helen was a P.E. teacher in Mason City. The pair later made their home in Iowa City where John became a professor at the University of Iowa. As time went on two children would join them to complete their family. Helen would later substitute teach in the Iowa City school district and become co-owner of Best Way Publishing Company.
Helen had many hobbies and interests. She was a member of the University Club and she started a Piano Club with friends, where other members were able to perform monthly. She also enjoyed TTT, being a docent at the Old Capitol building, organizing modern dance groups through the church, hand painting Christmas cards, playing bridge while socializing and enjoying an occasional round of golf. Helen and John were charter members of Christ the King, members of Gloria Dei and Zion Lutheran where she remained a member until her passing. Above all else, Helen cherished her family. She was a loyal wife, a loving mother and a devoted grandmother.
Helen is survived by her two sons: Steven Kottman and Jim (Genie) Kottman; grandsons: Sean (Libbie Schmieder) Kottman and Christopher Kottman; sister-in-law Anne Kottman; nieces and nephews: Deb (Russ) Boardman, David (Debbie) Larsen, Barbara Larsen, Tracey (Kevin) Wood and Camilla Kottman. Great-nieces and great-nephews: Jason (Dana) Boardman, Mandy Boardman, Kara (Kevin) Owens, Aaron (Lexie) Larsen, Mary (Brandon) Sly, Kristine Larsen and Jonathan Wood. Great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews: Emma and Eden Boardman, Gage Boardman, Landon and Hattie Owens, Everly and Witten Larsen and Beckett Sly. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, John in 2014; sisters: Marguerite (Norman) Larsen and Virginia (Don) Rodgers; brother-in-law Richard Kottman; daughter-in-law, Karen Kottman and her nephew, Richard Larsen.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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