Karol-Kay Rachel Bird

Karol-Kay Rachel Bird

Iowa City

Karol Bird passed away Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. Father Stephen Witt will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. Entombment will be at the Memory Gardens Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Church, the Regina Foundation or to DVIP.

Karol was born to Velma (Williams) and Herbert H. Kent on April 26, 1936, in Iowa City. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa.

Karol married Edward Brown on Aug. 9, 1954. Edward died in 1980. On July 17, 1982, Karol married LeRoy Bird. Leroy passed away in 2011. Karol lived in Iowa City her entire life and was an elementary teacher in Lone Tree until retirement in 1999.

Karol’s faith was very important to her. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the National Education Association, Retired School Personnel Association and Voices of Experience at the Iowa City Senior Center.

Karol is survived by her three children, Elaine (Raleigh) Nelson of Newport, Minn., Glenn (Sara) Brown of Iowa City and Steven (Nancy) Brown of Omaha, Neb.; 12 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; step-children, Janet (Bob) Kline, Diana (Robert) Schmidt, Ronald Bird, Michael Bird and Alan (Susan) Bird; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and a large extended family.

Karol was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edward Brown; husband, Leroy Bird; sisters, Elizabeth Kent, Sandra Kent, Mary Holderness and Esther Ross; and her brother, Herbert Kent.

Online condolences shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.