Obituary of Elizabeth A. Fox

Elizabeth Ann Fox was born on Oct 7,1926 in Iowa City, Iowa, the youngest child to Danish immigrants, Hertha and Oluf Steffensen of Springdale, Iowa. Elizabeth had two brothers, Elmer and Bert, two sisters, Ruth Safely and Ketty Hillman, and three stillborn sons. All preceded her in death.

Elizabeth graduated from Springdale High School in 1946. After graduation she worked at an advertising company in Iowa City. She met her future husband, Bernard Fox when he was working as a carpenter building student housing for the University of Iowa. They were married on January 29,1948 at St Mary’s Church in Iowa City, then moved to Muscatine, Iowa where she gave birth to her son, Michael Fox. They remained in Muscatine for 20 years and returned to Iowa City in the early 1970’s. Elizabeth worked on the University of Iowa student housing cleaning staff for 15 years. She retired from the University when Bernard completed construction of their 42-foot sailboat in their barn near Iowa City. They launched the boat, the ‘Honey Bunny’, at Davenport, Iowa. They sailed the boat down the Mississippi and the inland waterways then docked at a marina in Pensacola, Florida where they lived for 10 years. They returned to Iowa City when Bernard began showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Elizabeth provided home care for most of Bernard’s remaining years. After Bernard’s death in 2010, Elizabeth remained in Iowa City until 2012 when she moved to an assisted living community near her son’s home in Centennial, Colorado. After 7 years, she moved to a senior care facility where she lived for her remaining days until her death on Nov 12, 2024, at age 98. She passed peacefully in her sleep with her daughter-in-law, Marsha, by her side.

Elizabeth’s back porch and barn in Iowa City were refuge for many stray animals, especially cats and the occasional raccoon and possum that would greet her at her back door for a meal. They always knew that some morsels could be found on her porch.

Elizabeth always enjoyed the holidays with family gatherings at their homes or in local parks. While in Pensacola, Florida, she made many new friends as they arrived at the marina.

Her son, Mike, and daughter-in-law, Marsha Satorius-Fox, are very grateful for the kindness and good humor extended by the staff at the facilities where Elizabeth lived while in Colorado. Elizabeth was known for her quick humor and for roaming every accessible hallway.

Memorial services are planned for 11 am Friday, May 22, 2026, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with a light reception to follow prior to the burial at the West Branch Cemetery where her husband, Bernard is buried.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her honor to Iowa Humane Alliance (6540 6th. Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404) To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.