I was so shocked and saddened to see Karen's brief obituary in today's paper. I feel very badly that I did not know she was in Hospice care and had not been in touch with her this past year. As is so often the case, I recently mentioned Karen to my husband and said I would call her after we returned from a trip to New York. I regret not making that call much earlier.
DeGowins were neighbors of my family for 50 years; my parents moved into the house next door on Dill street in 1964. At that time, it was Dick's father and mother who lived next door and then later Karen and Dick moved in and became dear friends of my mother. Karen was unfailing in her attention to my mom, Mary Winnie, especially in the 25 years following my dads death when Mom lived alone in her home. Karen and my mom shared their love of Hawkeye sports, cheering and commiserating with each other as the case might be. They also shared being volunteers at UIHC and when my mom was no longer able to physically work in the hospital and supported the cause by knitting baby caps, Karen brought her the yarn and returned the caps to the hospital. Karen was one of the few "outside" people Mom saw on a regular basis and she so appreciated Karen keeping her up to date on neighborhood and UI events and "news". Even when Mom spent her last 6 weeks in a care facility, Karen visited and checked in regularly. I relied on Karen to keep an eye on Mom in her last years alone at home; Karen had the spare key to Mom's house and would call me or run over to check if she noticed the paper was still on the stoop late in the morning or the garage door had been left up overnight. Mom truly loved Karen and Karen definitely went above and beyond just being a good neighbor.
I worked in the College of Medicine before I retired and would drop in to see Karen in the Volunteer office every now and then. It was easy to see the pleasure she took in her work there and how much other volunteers and staff thought of her. I know she will be missed by the many, many people whose lives she touched. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your wife and mother. Penny
