Kathleen 'Kathy' Jane Hall

KATHLEEN "KATHY" JANE HALL

Cedar Rapids

Kathleen "Kathy" Jane Hall, 78, died on Feb. 2, 2022, from complications related to Parkinson's Disease and

Lewy Body Dementia. Kathy was born Jan. 25, 1944, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Joseph and Dorothea Hall. She grew up on her family farm near Clemons.

Kathy attended Clemons High School and Iowa State University, receiving a B.S. in English, and M.S. in history. She met and married fellow student David Nicholas while at Iowa State. They had three children, Christopher, Sarah and Jane, and later divorced.

Kathy earned a Master's degree in early childhood education and worked in preschools most of her life, beginning as a volunteer at Jane Boyd Community House, and later retired from the Cedar Rapids Community Schools, where she taught and helped design STEP-UP, Iowa's version of Head Start.

A nature lover, Kathy was a volunteer teacher naturalist with the Indian Creek Nature Center for many years. Additionally, she tutored English language learners in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools under the direction of Kirkwood Community College and The Catherine McAuley Center. Kathy enjoyed music, was a skilled pianist and also belonged to several choirs, including Iowa State Singers.

Kathy was an active member of the Whittier Monthly Meeting of Friends. She always had a book in her hand, reading everything from English mysteries to history and politics. At one time she belonged to five different book discussion groups. She traveled extensively to destinations including Yellowstone, England, Ireland, Scotland, Cuba and Costa Rica.

She was a member of the ACLU, Sierra Club, The National Audubon Society and Workers for Peace. One of her greatest joys was giving 222 acres of her family farm to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to protect the Minerva Creek and turn plowed fields back to Prairie.

Per Kathy's wishes, her body was donated to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine's Deeded Body Program. The Whittier Friends Meeting will hold a memorial service this summer. The family is grateful to the staff of the Woodlands at the Meth-Wick Community and Compassus Hospice.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Dorothea Hall; former husband, David Nicholas; a cousin, Doris Case; and many beloved cats.

She is survived by a sister, Ruth McDonald (Keith) of State Center; three children, Christopher Nicholas of West Burlington and Quincy, Ill. (Shannon), Sarah Nicholas of Shoreham, N.Y. (Josh Lynch) and Jane Nicholas of Cedar Rapids; former son-in-law, Rod Schmidt of Cedar Rapids; and seven grandchildren, Cole and Sydney Nicholas (Chris), London and Brigid Lynch (Sarah), and Isabel, Joe and Curran Schmidt (Jane); and her last best cat, Cindy Lou Who.

Memorials may be directed to Whittier Friends Meeting, 3200 Whittier Rd., Springville, IA 52336; and The Indian Creek Nature Center, 5300 Otis Rd., SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.