“Connie” (Corrine) Erickson

“Connie” (Corrine) Erickson

Cedar Rapids

“Connie” (Corrine) Erickson, 97, died Aug 8, 2022, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 1 p.m. at Cedar Memorial. A reception will be held after the service, also at Cedar Memorial.

Survivors include her children, Kristin in Florida and Craig in Cedar Rapids; and grandchildren, Alycia and Stephen.

Born to Eli and Carrie Pederson Nerhus on March 17, 1925, in Calamus, Iowa, she received a BA in Music and English from St. Olaf College and an MA from University of Iowa, and began a teaching career in DeWitt, Iowa. She taught in Rock Island and Rock Falls, Ill., and had a long teaching career in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Along the way she met her beloved husband Arnie Erickson. They were married Sept. 15, 1953, and produced two multi-talented children, Kristin and Craig.

Connie and Arnie both taught school until they began to raise a family, when Connie became a stay-at-home mom for a few years. When her kids started school, Connie went back to school too, and taught until retirement while Arnie opened a successful music store. Connie also was musical. She was a vocal teacher and singing in choirs when she met Arnie, and continued to teach piano and vocals at different periods of her life. Her children grew up in a house filled with beautiful classical, jazz and Brazilian samba music.

Connie loved learning and continued to take courses just for fun throughout her life. She was a voracious and avid reader and writer and stayed deeply informed and thoughtful about a number of subjects she was passionate about. Her love of and dedication to reading and learning positively influenced many around her including her children and students.

Prior to her illness, she was active in her church, in the American Association of Women where she spent a term as president, sang in Sweet Adelines, facilitated or participated in many book clubs, enjoyed going to concerts, plays and lectures, loved growing flowers, and traveled throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe with her husband, family and friends.

Donations in her memory may be given to Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, the Water Project, or charity of your choice. Please leave a message or tribute to the Erickson family on our web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.