Armens, Kathleen V.

Kathleen V. Armens, widow of Professor Emeritus Sven M. Armens, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at Mercy Hospice in Iowa City, with her family by her side.

Kathleen was born Dec. 17, 1919, in Boston, Mass., to Patrick Francis and Catherine (Ryan) Danahy. She attended high school in Boston and Athol and later Jackson College in Medford, Mass. On May 31, 1942, she married the love of her life, Sven Armens. The two met at a Boston Pops Esplanade Concert and were together for 70 years. After raising two children Kathleen went back to school and received her B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1972 in Germanic studies.

Kathleen shared many passions with her husband, among them travel and literature. The two spent one year from 1965 to 1966 traveling through Europe and rekindling ties with relatives in Sweden. A trip full of wonderful memories, Kathleen was inspired to learn German and Swedish and returned several times to visit Europe. United also by literature, Kathleen worked with her husband typing up his handwritten notes for his books, and later in life when he could no longer see, she read aloud every night the novels they both enjoyed.

A dedicated homemaker, she enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, and canning her own fruits and vegetables. She served as a Red Cross volunteer for many years and in her leisure time attended the Iowa City Swedish Club, computer classes and photography courses. Kathleen loved ice-skating and bicycle riding and was an avid swimmer, swimming three times a week until shortly before her passing.

She is survived by her son, Karl, and his wife, Dottie (Nelson) Armens, and their sons, Paul, Andrew and Michael, of Iowa City; her daughter, Sharon Constantinidis of Columbus, Ohio, and her children, Aaron and Amber Kohl; her sister in-law, Peggy Danahy; and 13 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sven; her parents; her sister, Dorothy Kosta; and brothers, John, Patrick and Eugene Danahy.

Family will greet friends Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, with a brief time of remembrance held at 7 p.m., with the Rev. Karl Devine-Koch. Burial will be at a later date in Boston.

Instead of flowers, memorial contributions can be donated to KSUI and the Iowa City Animal Shelter.

Published Oct. 15, 2012 in The Gazette