Karson, Ida O.

Ida O. Karson, 94, a longtime resident of Iowa City, died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Ida Helen Olin was born Oct. 15, 1918, in Springfield, Ill., daughter of Hubert Leonard and Helen Hanes Olin. She attended University High School and earned B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University Iowa. She loved landscape painting, and was continually inspired by the oak trees and river views near her home. Ida taught junior high school art in Kirksville, Mo., and attended the Kansas City Art Institute.

She married John Jacob Karson “Jack” in 1942 and they settled in Los Angeles, Calif. When Jack died in 1953, Ida returned with her three sons to Iowa City. Ida worked at the University of Iowa Libraries and volunteered at the Iowa City Public Library. She was active in the Women's Caucus for Art and the Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Ida had a lifelong interest in TV journalism and public radio, enjoying KSUI's classical music daily.

Ida is survived by her sons, John Michael Karson of Iowa City, Wayne Olin Karson of Culver City, Calif., and Thomas Dale Karson and his spouse, Anne Gochenour, of Mount Pleasant, Mich. Grandchildren include Karson Sara Gochenour of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Alexandra Karson of San Francisco, Calif.

A memorial reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Homewood Suites in Coralville, with a remembrance at 4:30 p.m. She will be inurned at Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to KSUI radio or the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History.

Condolences may be sent to Ida's family by emailing tdkarson@fastmail.fm.

Published Oct. 6, 2013 in The Gazette