Obituary of Denise M. Deacon

Denise M. Deacon, 59, of Iowa City died suddenly, Thursday, November 20, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Memorial services will be held at 6:30 pm Monday, November 24, 2014, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, where visitation will be after 4 pm Monday until services. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Denise's memory. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Denise Maria Johnson was born May 1, 1955, in Detroit, MI, the daughter of Howard and Ellora (Bruce) Johnson. She graduated from Pontiac Central High School in 1973, and from Central Michigan University in 1977 with a degree in teaching. She was united in marriage to Gregory H. Deacon on September 26, 1981, in Iowa City. She was recently recognized for over thirty years of service at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. She has also worked for Home Safe in Coralville. Denise enjoyed the simple things in life, reading, listening to music, camping, playing cards, car travels; but most of all she was always caring for her family and her friends. She dearly loved these people in her life, as they did her! Her family includes her husband, Greg; daughter, Mallory and her husband, Ryan Carlson; grandchildren, Tyler, Matthew, and Madison; Denise's mother, Ellora Johnson; her sisters, DonaRae Johnson and Estelle Rumsey and her husband, Steve; and her niece and nephew, Sabrina and Nolan Rumsey. She was preceded in death by their daughter, Kelsey Marie Deacon; her father, Howard Johnson, and her brother, Bruce Johnson.