Obituary of John W. Conner

John W. Conner, 79, of North Liberty, died Saturday, December 30, 2006, at the Solon Nursing Care Center following a lengthy illness. Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2007, at the Newman Center in Iowa City with the Reverend Ed Fitzpatrick and Chaplain Maurie Campbell officiating. Family graveside services will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either the Iowa City Senior Center or Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to his family through www.gayandciha.com. John Warren Conner was born March 30, 1927, in Cumberland, Iowa, the son of Warren S. and Genevieve R. (Cullen) Conner. Following graduation from Cumberland High School, he received his undergraduate degree from Creighton University in Omaha, and both his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in English from the University of Iowa. He began his 41-year teaching career in Cooper, Iowa, and taught in Iowa Falls and Mason City before joining the faculty at the University Lab School in Iowa City. He served as Associate Professor in Secondary Education at the University of Iowa for more than twenty-five years, retiring in 1992. John was dedicated to the advancement of reading and literacy, established the Iowa Reading Journal, and served as a director of Books for Young Adults. John was recognized as a leader in his profession and received many awards and distinctions for his work. Following his retirement he became actively involved in AARP, eventually taking leadership of the the Midwest Regional Grief and Loss Program. His life-long interest in music lead to his participation with the Voices of Experience choir and the New Horizons Band, and he was past director of the St. Thomas More and St. Patrick’s church choirs. John’s passion was collecting antique glass, and together with his wives Mary Lou and Wilma, he built an important collection of Early American Art Glass. He traveled extensively to meet with other collectors and served two terms as President of the National Toothpick Holder Collectors’ Society. John was united in marriage to Mary Lou Everts in 1957; she died in 1974. He married Wilma Belmer Collins in 1976; she died in 1998. His family includes their children: son Michael Conner and special friend Kathy Prediger, of Solon; daughters Pamela Collins Betts and husband Gary, of Chicago; Kathleen Collins Bretz and husband David, of West Des Moines, and their children Hannah and Hailey; Maureen Collins-Williams and husband David Williams, of Cedar Falls, and their children Robert, Claire, and Kayle; Margaret Collins Vandewalle and husband Tim, of Chattanooga, TN, and their son Collin; Jennifer Collins Kolwey and husband Jan, of Long Grove, and their children Alexandra and Emily; Molly Collins James and husband Neal, of Swisher, and their children Lydia and Mason. He was preceded in death by his parents, wives, a sister, Judith Gerlock and a brother, Eugene Conner. John’s family would like to offer special thanks to Iowa City Hospice and the Solon Nursing Care Center for the loving support and friendship they provided to their father and the family. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Mr. Conner’s family and his services.