Obituary of Kelsey Maria Deacon

Kelsey Maria Deacon, 26 of Iowa City died Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a lifetime struggle with heart disease. Services celebrating Kelsey’s life will be held at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, November 6, 2010, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be after 4 pm Saturday until services and following the services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to Reach For Your Potential. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Kelsey was born May 22, 1984, in Iowa City the daughter of Gregory and Denise (Johnson) Deacon. Attending Iowa City Schools, she graduated from City High School with the Class of 2003. She has been a cherished member of the Reach For Your Potential family for some time now. Kelsey’s passions in her life include a love of NASCAR, including the drivers Dale Ernhardt Jr., Paul Menard; Minnesota Vikings, and of course the Iowa Hawkeye’s. She enjoyed reading, listening to her music, and dancing. During Special Olympics she participated in running and cross country skiing. Kelsey served as Secretary of the Aktion Club. Her family includes her parents, Denise and Greg; sister, Mallory Deacon of Davenport; grandparents, Ellora Johnson of East Dundee, IL; and Don Deacon of Marion, IA. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Howard Johnson; grandmother, Arleen Deacon, uncle, Bruce Johnson and her two cats, Pepper and LBK. Kelsey has beaten the odds for over 26 years; she wasn’t expected to live much longer after her birth. But through determination, strong will, much love and prayer we have been blessed with this beautiful young lady longer than we ever thought we would. She met many special people on her short journey through life. Kelsey was happy and never gave up her fight to be healthy and as normal as she thought she should be. Through the dedicated professional skills and compassion of all those at the Mayo Clinic, University Hospitals, and Mercy Hospital; the love of her family at Reach For Potential, and all the love and prayers throughout the years from our family and friends, we thank you!