Lenz, Colleen Conner

Colleen Conner Lenz, 74, of Iowa City, died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at Mercy Iowa City. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. There will be a period of visitation following these services at the funeral home on Monday.

Colleen Conner was born Jan. 13, 1938, in Iowa City, the daughter of Lawrence and Evelyn (Sparrgrove) Conner. She graduated from St. Patrick's Catholic Schools in 1956, and had attended the University of Iowa. She married Paul E. Swartzendruber on Aug. 11, 1956. She later married Ernest F. Lenz on May 8, 1993. She had lived most of her lifetime in the Iowa City area, with a short time in Burlington.

Colleen was an avid reader, appreciated all the knowledge and purpose of good nutrition and good health; and never walked away from sharing her political views, especially in recent years, with the election of President Obama, and the prospect of another term; she was ecstatic and willing to tell you!

Her family includes her mother, Evelyn Conner of Iowa City; daughters, Julie Swartzendruber of Sacramento, Calif., Ann Swartzendruber (Dirk Hutchison) of Columbus, Ohio and Jennifer Rowland and her husband, James, of Newport News, Va.; siblings, Kay Cambridge and her husband, Ray, of North Liberty, Kathy Mycko of Albuquerque, N.M., Larry Conner of Solon, Debbie Wade of Homestead, Maureen Conner and her husband, Bob Nelson, of Iowa City, Michael Conner of Solon and Rosemarie Rarick and her husband, Clint, of Oxford; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, husbands, and her son, Michael Swartzendruber.

Memorial donations can be made in Colleen's memory to Pleasantview Home in Kalona or Hospice Compassus.

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.

Published Feb. 26, 2012 in The Gazette