Obituary of Kathleen Ann Fountain

Kathleen A. “Kathy” Fountain, age 81, a lifelong resident of the Iowa City area, died Thursday, June 11, 2020, at the Briarwood Care Center in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10 am Saturday, June 20, 2020, at the St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Iowa City. To view Kathy's funeral service livestream visit, Facebook.com/stmarksumcic/live. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Friday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Eastern Iowa Alzheimer’s Association. To share a thought, memory, or condolence, please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Kathleen Ann Swails was born April 11, 1939, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Howard and Albertus (Gaylor) Swails. She grew up and attended school in West Branch, Iowa, graduating from West Branch High School with the Class of 1957. She continued her education by attending and graduating from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Upon graduation with her nursing degree, she began a career with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics that spanned over 40 years, eventually achieving the position of Nurse Clinician III in charge of UIHC Central Nursing Office. Everyone around Kathy respected her high level of patient care and capabilities as a nurse manager. She dearly loved her career at the hospital, serving in various areas and departments during her career. Kathy married Larry D. Fountain on August 28, 1960, at the West Branch Methodist Church. Kathy and Larry were soul mates, fated to be together. They were born in the same hospital, one day apart, starting their lives as nursery mates. Their family grew from three children, to five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren whom she adored. Kathy practiced her faith at St. Marks United Methodist Church where she was active in many ways. She was a Girl Scout Leader and Cub Scout Leader, always supporting the children’s and grandchildren’s activities and sports. She and Larry loved to travel, with Hawaii being their favorite destination – visiting many times over the years. She was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, always cheering for both men’s and women’s teams. Kathy enjoyed her flowers and gardening, bird watching, swimming and tennis, sewing and macramé, and playing cards and board games of all sorts, in fact being remembered as a demon at Dominoes. Kathy will be greatly missed by all who knew her and loved her. Kathy’s family includes her husband of 59 years, Larry: children, Michelle Barrett (Oneil) of West Branch, Iowa; Bryant Fountain of Iowa City, Iowa; and Lorelle “Lori” Strauss (Bill) of Dubuque, Iowa; five grandchildren, Patricia Dorr, Tess Washington, Ryan and Madelyn Strauss, and James Fountain; three great-grandchildren, Rosalina, Elijah, and Gabriella; brother, Richard E. Swails (Dodie) of Solon, Iowa; sister-in-law, Karen E. Meier (Norbert) of Madison, Wisconsin; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family sends their heartfelt thanks to the nursing and administrative staff at Briarwood Care Center for providing the utmost of empathetic care for Kathy during her final years. “Social distancing standards will be in place along with all in attendance expected to wear a mask. If you arrive without one, a mask will be provided to you by the funeral home. Thank you for supporting Kathy’s family with your presence and being conscientious in doing so.”