Barbara Ann Sovern (1944-2022)

SOVERN, POLULACH, URBANEK, GASKILL, COLFER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/12/2022 at 14:05:54

Barbara Ann Sovern, 78, of Marion, passed away Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. A private family service will be held at a later date.

Barbara, the middle of three children, was born on May 18, 1944, in Chicago, Ill., to John and Jean Polulach. She graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School in 1962 and went on to earn a B.A. in English from Marquette University, where she was a member of Kappa Beta Gamma sorority. Barbara did post graduate work with a reading focus and earned her Master's of Education degree at Loyola University (Chicago). She started her teaching career in downtown Chicago as an elementary and English as a second language teacher. Later in life, she returned to education as a substitute teacher for metro area schools and served as home liaison and lead teacher for the HACAP/Headstart Program in the Cedar Rapids area.

Barbara was an active member and volunteer of many community groups, including the Junior League of Cedar Rapids, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.), the Make -A-Wish Foundation, Child Celebration of the Arts, the Science Station, Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary and the Pribyl Junior Golf Tournament. An avid fitness and health enthusiast, Barbara was one of the first instructors to teach yoga in the metropolitan area. She completed the Chicago marathon with her husband, Larry and they shared a mutual love for exercise. The couple also enjoyed travel as they made many trips to Solana Beach, Calif., in the winters and Lake Geneva, Wis., during the summers. A petite woman with an independent streak, she took on the role of caregiver for Larry and all were in awe of her strength and devotion over the years. Barbara had many circles of friends she cherished and her generosity was felt by everyone who came into her path. A doting wife and mother, Barbara put her family first and had an amazing spirit of hope for the future, no matter what the life circumstance.

She is survived by daugther, Lindsey Sovern Urbanek (Matthew) Overland Park, Kan.; grandchildren, Gray and Sylas Urbanek; brother-in-law, Chuck Gaskill of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; nephew, Matthew Gaskill; niece, Lauren (Tommy) Ehinger; and Steve Sovern Family, Colfer Family and Rhodes Family Cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jean Polulach; sister, Marilyn Streetman; brother, John Polulach; husband, Larry Sovern; son, John Brett Sovern; in-laws, Charles and Dorothy Sovern; sister-in-law, Susan Gaskill; and brother-in-law, Jerry Falck.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the John Brett Sovern Memorial Scholarship at the Kirkwood Foundation, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404; www.kirkwood.edu/about-us/foundation/give.