In Memory Summer 2022

1940s

Dorothy Molzahn Bennett (48BA) of Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Oct. 25, 2021. Robert Davison (48BA, 50MA) of Cedar Rapids on Jan. 18, 2022. Shirley Mueller Dommers (47BSPE) of Rockford, Illinois, on Dec. 15, 2021. Irmgard Lehner Eden (42GN) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Oct. 11, 2021. Charlotte Fuerst Hale (46BA) of Frisco, Texas, on Oct. 29, 2021. Lorraine Kammerdiner Miller (46GN) of Waterloo, Iowa, on Oct. 20, 2021. Beatrice Mintz (44MS, 46PhD) of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 3, 2022. Mildred Michaelson Murray (45BSC) of Moline, Illinois, on Nov. 3, 2021. Ortha Neff (40BA) of Iowa City on Dec. 13, 2021. Louise Johnston Roalson (46BA) of Cedar Rapids on Dec. 20, 2021. Burton John Rutz (49BSC) of Cedar Rapids on Jan. 8, 2022. Asher Schroeder (49BA, 50JD) of Maquoketa, Iowa, on Jan. 10, 2022. Elaine Brody Silverman (44BA) of Los Angeles on Nov. 6, 2021. Ruth Ioerger Streed (40BSC) of Cedar Rapids on Oct. 26, 2021. John Webster (41BA, 43MA, 53PhD) of Chestertown, New York, on Dec. 29, 2021.

Mary Pappajohn

Mary Pappajohn—along with her husband, John Pappajohn (52BSC, 10LHD)—was committed to spreading art and opportunity. Born in Minneapolis in 1933, Mary graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in home economics and a passion for art that would last a lifetime.

After marrying John in 1961, Mary used her expertise to build their personal art collection, and they were recognized for 15 consecutive years among ARTNews Magazine’s Top 200 Art Collectors. Their outdoor sculpture collection was eventually made public with the establishment of the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines. Mary was also heavily involved in board leadership roles with art galleries and organizations across the country, including at the Des Moines Art Center, Walker Art Center, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Whitney Museum, and National Gallery of Art.

Mary’s other philanthropic focus was higher education. She and her husband donated generously to the University of Iowa, where they established the John and Mary Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, John and Mary Pappajohn Clinical Cancer Center, one of five statewide John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers, and the Des Moines-based John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center, among many other gifts.

Mary was highly regarded for her philanthropy and dedication to the art community during her life, earning awards such as State of Iowa Philanthropist of the Year and National Philanthropist of the Year for the Arts.

Mary Pappajohn died March 17 in Naples, Florida. She was 88.

Visit the Henry B. Tippie Tribute Page

During his lifetime, Henry B. Tippie (49BSC) traveled from the fields of Iowa to the world of Wall Street, thanks to his commitment to hard work, integrity, and generosity—and to his University of Iowa degree. Tippie died on Feb. 20 at age 95. Visit the Henry B. Tippie College of Business tribute page to learn more about Tippie’s life and contributions to the University of Iowa.

1950s

Barbara Brown Agersborg (56BA) of Lake Forest, California, on Nov. 11, 2021. Richard Albrecht (58BA, 61JD) of Seattle on Dec. 28, 2021. Richard Andersen (58BSME) of Muscatine, Iowa, on Nov. 3, 2021. Joan Chase Arthur (55MA) of Lebanon, Missouri, on Oct. 20, 2021. Richard Baskerville (59LLB) of West Des Moines on Dec. 5, 2021. David Daryl Basler (54MA, 60PhD) of Moses Lake, Washington, on Oct. 3, 2021. Robert Bly (56MA) of Minneapolis on Nov. 21, 2021. Patricia Kron Boettger (65BSN) of Danville, California, on Jan. 3, 2022. Janice Hagy Boswell (59BSC) of Carlsbad, California, on Oct. 26, 2021. Tom Briggs (54BA, 57MD) of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on Nov. 11, 2021. Martin Christensen (56BSC) of Dekalb, Illinois, on Oct. 16, 2021. Jack Collison (58BSC) of Santa Ynez, California, on Nov. 9, 2021. Lois Gutz Coon (50GN) of Coralville on Dec. 16, 2021. Marye Hartz Cotton (58BA) of Potomac, Maryland, on Nov. 19, 2021. William Cumberland (53MA, 58PhD) of Onalaska, Wisconsin, on Nov. 8, 2021. Marilyn Smith Dodd (51BA) of Marshalltown, Iowa, on Jan. 16, 2022. Grace Harter Duggleby (51BA) of McFarland, Wisconsin, on Dec. 4, 2021. John Englert (58BA) of St. Charles, Illinois, on Nov. 24, 2021. Dale Euchner (57BSC) of Columbus, Nebraska, on Nov. 14, 2021. Alvin Fosse (51BSC) of Lima, Ohio, on Nov. 4, 2021. Evelyn Newton Glazebrook (53MA) of Des Moines on Dec. 25, 2021. Dwight Haarup (57BSC) of Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 28, 2021. Myles Harai (57BSCE) of Petersburg, Alaska, on Dec. 21, 2021. Lois Plummer Hartline (55BSN) of Des Moines on Dec. 22, 2021. Helen Scott Hauser (55MS) of Springville, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 4, 2021. John M. W. Hayek (56MS) of Flushing, Michigan, on Oct. 24, 2021. Janet Terry Hedberg (55GN) of Des Moines on Jan. 7, 2022. Sarah Wilson Helt (56BA) of Iowa City on Jan. 3, 2022. Elna Larsen Hendrickson (55GN) of Wyoming, Minnesota, on Nov. 25, 2021. Marilyn Dasher Houck (55BA) of Mason City, Iowa, on Nov. 10, 2021. James Hoyman (51JD) of Indianola, Iowa, in November 2021. Ruth Buckingham Hoyt (51BA) of Ottumwa, Iowa, on Nov. 12, 2021. Thomas Hulme (52BA, 70MSW) of Iowa City on Dec. 4, 2021. Grace Kaminkowitz (55BA) of Chicago on Dec. 21, 2021. Richard Knowles (56BSCE) of Chautauqua, New York, on Dec. 5, 2021. Kenneth Lindner (53MA, 66PhD) of Merrillan, Wisconsin, on Dec. 4, 2021. William H. Long (59BSC) of Gering, Nebraska, on Oct. 25, 2021. William McCoy (56DDS) of Marion, Iowa, on Dec. 6, 2021. Carolyn Lindahl Moen (52GN) of Marion, Iowa, on Jan. 6, 2022. Leroy Nagel (56MA) of Hughson, California, on Dec. 21, 2021. Victor Naxera (57BSC) of Cedar Rapids on Nov. 24, 2021. Elizabeth Simon Olstad-Morton (55BA) of Tucson, Arizona, on Oct. 21, 2021. William Osmundson (52BA) of Clear Lake, Iowa, on Nov. 25, 2021. Warren Pagel (53BSChE) of Hudson, Wisconsin, on Nov. 15, 2021. Richard Peldo (57BSC) of Deerbrook, Wisconsin, on Nov. 3, 2021. James Percival II (56BA, 59DDS) of Clive, Iowa, on Dec. 1, 2021. Louis Phillips (57MFA) of Philadelphia on Jan. 6, 2022. Elaine Pauk Robinette (56DI, 56MS) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Oct. 23, 2021. Theodore Rosky (59BA) of Louisville, Kentucky, on Jan. 11, 2022. Mary Cady Rubinstein (51MFA) of State College, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 13, 2021. Robert Schertz (58BSME, 73MS) of Melbourne, Iowa, on Nov. 10, 2021. Marlene Williams Stanford (56CER) of Iowa City on Dec. 11, 2021. John F. Sullivan (50BSC) of Cascade, Iowa, on Dec. 1, 2021. Richard Sundberg (59BSCh) of Hickory, North Carolina, on Nov. 1, 2021. Sanny Armstrong Thompson (54BA) of Marshalltown, Iowa, on Nov. 24, 2021. Charlene Himrod Ver Steeg (58BSN) of West Des Moines on Nov. 18, 2021. Richard Wells (53BA, 56JD) of Bettendorf, Iowa, on Oct. 24, 2021. Phyllis Schultz Wenglein (53GN) of San Antonio in December 2021. Denny Whisler (55BSC) of Mexico, Missouri, on Jan. 19, 2022. Carol Ross Wiley (58BA) of Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Dec. 21, 2021. Robert D. Williams (58BSC) of Thornton, Colorado, on Oct. 13, 2021. Merlyn Wood (59BA) of Chariton, Iowa, on Oct. 26, 2021. Georganne Halverson Woodruff (54BA) of Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Jan. 10, 2022. Albion Young (53LLB, 69JD) of North Liberty, Iowa, on Jan. 19, 2022. Carroll Zuber (59BSC) of Amana, Iowa, on Dec. 11, 2021.

1960s

Anna Agerbeck (64BSN) of Dunnell, Minnesota, on Dec. 6, 2021. Barry Anderson (68JD) of St. Peter, Minnesota, on Nov. 4, 2021. Roger Armstrong (68BBA) of Johnston, Iowa, on Jan. 11, 2022. William Bailey (63BA, 66JD) of Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 7, 2021. Phil Bartlett (60BA) of Narragansett, Rhode Island, on Nov. 14, 2021. Raymond Beemer (68BBA, 71MA) of Iowa City on Dec. 23, 2021. Kenneth Bell (68MD, 75R) of New Orleans on Nov. 12, 2021. Richard Boyle (66BSEE) of York, Nebraska, on Nov. 7, 2021. David Brodsky (60BA, 63JD) of Iowa City on Dec. 10, 2021. Stephen Burger (68BS, 71DDS) of Ankeny, Iowa, on Nov. 25, 2021. Robert Button (69MA) of Charlottesville, Virginia, on Dec. 23, 2021. Lavonne Sup Carr (66BSME) of Eatonville, Washington, on Oct. 28, 2021. John Cizek (60MA) of Monee, Illinois, on Oct. 11, 2021. Lawrence Clore (66BBA) of Cedar Rapids on Dec. 3, 2021. Richard Davison (60BA) of Dubuque, Iowa, on Dec. 28, 2021. Phillip England (64MA) of Camp Verde, Arizona, on Nov. 1, 2021. Evonne Kludas English (62MFA) of Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 17, 2021. James Erb (63BA) of Charles City, Iowa, on Nov. 5, 2021. Lyle Feld (67BBA, 69MBA) of Lenexa, Kansas, on Dec. 3, 2021. Melva Geyer (68BA) of Greenville, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2021. Richard Braverman Haendel (65BA) of Iowa City on Nov. 15, 2021. Neil Harl (61JD) of Ames, Iowa, on Nov. 4, 2021. Linda Carlson Hart (67BA) of Gaylordsville, Connecticut, on Oct. 26, 2021. Charles Hesse (62MD, 70R) of Coralville on Nov. 30, 2021. William Hicks (66BS, 70MD) of Willmar, Minnesota, on Jan. 8, 2022. Dallas Hogan (65BBA) of Cedar Rapids on Nov. 20, 2021. James Holland (65BA) of Naperville, Illinois, on Dec. 20, 2021. Donald L. Johnson (62JD) of Evanston, Illinois, on Nov. 1, 2021. Paul E. Johnson (66MA, 70 EdS, 73PhD) of Davenport, Iowa, on Aug. 1, 2020. Raymond Kary (67PhD) of Lakeside, Arizona, on Dec. 7, 2021. Patricia Kielsmeier (65BS) of Ames, Iowa, on Dec. 20, 2021. Jean Bennett Kienzler (68BA) of Athens, Illinois, on Jan. 13, 2022. Sandra Smith Krahmer (66BA) of Lubbock, Texas, on Nov. 14, 2021. Marilyn Graber Leichty (67MA, 72MA, 81PhD) of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 2021. Arnold Lindaman (65MA) of Davenport, Iowa, on Nov. 15, 2021. David Luense (69BBA) of Knoxville, Tennessee, on Dec. 18, 2021. James Lynch (60BA) of Redfield, Iowa, on Dec. 27, 2021. Bruce Mauer (64DDS) of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Nov. 12, 2021. Larry Meier (63BSME) of Naples, Florida, on Dec. 16, 2021. Joseph Meusey (65JD) of Omaha, Nebraska, on Nov. 13, 2021. J. Donald Monroe (67MA, 68PhD) of Hamden, Connecticut, on Nov. 21, 2021. Mary Montgomery (67MA) of Torrance, California, on Jan. 2, 2022. Linda Mutchler (69BA) of Iowa City on Nov. 3, 2021. William Myer (65MA) of Waterloo, Iowa, on Nov. 3, 2021. James Neppl (67JD) of Rock Island, Illinois, on Jan. 14, 2022. William O’Meara (60MS, 60PedoS) of Old Lyme, Connecticut, on Oct. 18, 2021. Thomas Pohlen (67BS) of Hopkins, Minnesota, on Dec. 8, 2021. Gary Quast (63BA, 64DDS, 67MS, 67R) of Omaha, Nebraska, in Oct. 2021. William “Bud” Rainbow (69PhD) of Mesa, Arizona, on Dec. 11, 2021. Brian Rainer (66MA) of Champaign, Illinois, on Nov. 12, 2021. Lawrence Rettig (63BA, 67MA, 70PhD) of South Amana, Iowa, on Jan. 4, 2022. Ed Reveiz (66R) of Des Moines on Dec. 21, 2021. David Rossate (61BBA) of Cedar Rapids on Nov. 30, 2021. John Russell (67MA, 73EdS) of Sartell, Minnesota, on Jan. 15, 2022. Phillip Schmid (64R, 66F) of Iowa City on Dec. 14, 2021. William Schnute (66BS) of Wilton, New Hampshire, on Oct. 4, 2021. Mary Ellis Shafer (66BBA) of Clearfield, Utah, on Oct. 27, 2021. Ernest Simmons Jr. (64MA, 67PhD) of Georgetown, Texas, on Oct. 23, 2021. William Skea (68BBA) of Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 27, 2021. Carol Mirich Sokoloff (65BA, 73MA) of Iowa City on Jan. 14, 2022. Thomas Spencer (62PhD) of Mill Valley, California, on Oct. 18, 2021. Rodney Stecher (61BA) of St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2022. Pauline Langner Stevie (60BSN) of Granbury, Texas, on May 26. 2021. Thomas Stone (65BA, 68JD) of Silver Spring, Maryland, on Dec. 5, 2021. Robert Talcott (67BA) of Richmond, Virginia, on Jan. 13, 2022. Linda Flathers Thelen (64BA) of Jordan, Minnesota, on Jan. 2, 2022. Barbara Bausch Unzeitig (63BA) of Cedar Rapids on Jan. 6, 2022. Jerry Walker (60BA, 62DDS, 64PedoS, 69MA) of Cedar Rapids on Dec. 30, 2021. Suzanne Meier Ward (63BSN) of San Rafael, California, on Oct. 3, 2021. Patricia Parrott West (65BA) of Ashland, Oregon, on Oct. 21, 2021. Erwin Wittenberg (63MD) of Newton, Iowa, on Oct. 29, 2021. Robert Woodhouse (62BA, 63BSME, 71MA, 79PhD) of Minnetonka, Minnesota, on Nov. 8, 2021. Eugene Young (62DDS) of Clive, Iowa, on Dec. 16, 2021.

Mac McCausland (69BBA)

The longtime radio voice and TV color analyst for the University of Iowa men’s basketball team, McCausland was a central figure in UI athletics and the Hawkeye community.

As a UI student, McCausland played basketball under coach Ralph Miller before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1969.

Though he enjoyed a long and successful career in the insurance industry after graduation, McCausland remained deeply involved at his alma mater. He covered the Iowa men’s basketball team alongside announcer Larry Morgan during a golden era for the Hawkeyes in the ’80s and ’90s, calling fans to celebrate victories with the catchphrase “chips and salsa time.” He also took pride in broadcasting while his son, Kent (99BA), played as a Hawkeye letter winner from 1996 to 1999 under coach Tom Davis.

An avid Hawkeye booster, Mac McCausland was president of the Black Hawk County I-Club for many years and served on the National I-Club Board from 1975 to 1993, including as president from 1986 to 1987. He was also a columnist for Voice of the Hawkeyes.

McCausland received multiple honors for his involvement with the university, including being recognized as the National I-Club Hawk of the Year in 1980 and named a lifetime honorary director in 1993. He also received the Iowa Letterwinners Club Distinguished Service Award in 1994 and was recognized as an Iowa Letterwinners Club Honorary Letterwinner in 2002.

McCausland died Feb. 5 in Las Vegas. He was 75.

1970s

Mary Auterman (71MA) of Iowa City on Oct. 6, 2021. Allan Axeen (70BA) of Coralville on Jan. 5, 2022. William Bekker (73BS) of Davenport, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 2021. Beverly Ingham Birtcher (77BA) of North Liberty, Iowa, on Jan. 6, 2022. Leo Davis (75PhD) of Magnolia, Arkansas, on Nov. 23, 2021. Thomas Deans (73MA) of Milton, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 28, 2021. Phillip Ehrenhard (72BA) of Ottumwa, Iowa, on Dec. 26, 2021. Dirk Ficca (76BA) of Oak Park, Illinois, on Dec. 21, 2021. Thomas Furlong (75BA) of Coralville on Oct. 30, 2021. Gary Hagen (77BGS) of Iowa City on Jan. 1, 2022. C. Peter Hayek (73JD) of Ely, Minnesota, on Nov. 21, 2021. Fred Holt (74R) of Raleigh, North Carolina, on Oct. 6, 2021. Thomas King (76DDS) of Glenwood, Iowa, on Nov. 15, 2021. A. Paul Kouidis (72PhD) of Auburn, Alabama, on Dec. 5, 2021. Don Kriens (70BS, 72MS) of Oakdale, Minnesota, on Oct. 18, 2021. Don Kuennen (76BS) of Waukon, Iowa, on Oct. 24, 2021. J. Mark Lemon (77BBA) of Lenexa, Kansas, on Dec. 15, 2021. Susan Prescott Lyons (71BA) of San Diego on Nov. 29, 2021. Dennis Mekemson (73BBA) of Libertyville, Illinois, on Nov. 10, 2021. Peggy Minnick (74BA) of Pulaski, Wisconsin, on Nov. 22, 2021. Ruth Brooks Muir (79MA) of Iowa City on Dec. 13, 2021. Larry Nielsen (70MAT) of Carroll, Iowa, on Dec. 3, 2021. Thelma Loeck Perry (77MA) of Cedar Rapids on Dec. 18, 2021. Michael Petersen (74BS) of Clinton, Iowa, on Nov. 12, 2021. Susan Putman (73BFA, 74MA) of Capitola, California, on Dec. 14, 2021. John Reinheimer (77MA) of Galena, Illinois, on Nov. 27, 2021. Richard Schill (75BS) of Boone, Iowa, on Nov. 14, 2021. Robert Snyder (70PhD) of Aiken, South Carolina, on Oct. 29, 2021. Michael Sorenson (72BA) of Keokuk, Iowa, on Oct. 23, 2021. Sue Sturtz (74JD) of Tucson, Arizona, on Oct. 18, 2021. David Trachta (72BM, 83MA) of Cedar Rapids on Dec. 18, 2021. John Turgasen (72BA) of Iowa City on Jan. 4, 2022. Gary Vanderhoof (70JD) of Las Vegas on Dec. 6, 2021. Kenneth Weaver (73PhD) of Orange Park, Florida, on Dec. 18, 2021. Gary Whitby (78MFA, 84PhD) of Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 3, 2021. H. Clare McGregor Wicks (72BA) of Iowa City on Nov. 2, 2021. Rudolf Zuiderveld (78DMA) of Jacksonville, Illinois, on Oct. 29, 2021.

1980s

Judi Dunsmore Bartels (81RadT) of North Liberty, Iowa, on Dec. 21, 2021. David Beck (89MD, 94R) of St. Louis on Jan. 12, 2022. Elissa Cottle (81BA) of Stillwater, Minnesota, on Oct. 29, 2021. Bonnie East Dahlman (85BLS) of South Hutchinson, Kansas, on Dec. 10, 2021. A. Joseph Droessler (85BBA, 86MA) of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, on Dec. 7, 2021. Delena Edwards (85JD) of Blacklick, Ohio, on Nov. 20, 2021. Christine Ranney Eiten (86BBA) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, on Nov. 18, 2021. Leonard Freed (81MS, 81PhD) of Kailua, Hawaii, on Oct. 24, 2021. Stephen Jones (83BGS, 89MA) of Cedar Rapids on Oct. 31, 2021. Marcia Klueppel (81MA) of Urbandale, Iowa, on Nov. 11, 2021. Kenneth Mann (80BS) of Keokuk, Iowa, on Oct. 20, 2021. Leanna Murphy McGuire (82BGS) of Seattle on Oct. 26, 2021. John O’Connor (86BBA) of West Des Moines on Nov. 5, 2021. Scott Otten (85BBA) of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Nov. 11, 2021. Alan Smith (88BSE) of Iowa City on Jan. 12, 2022. Lori Snodgrass (85BBA, 96MBA) of Davenport, Iowa, on Jan. 2, 2022. Ross Snyder (80BS, 83BSPh) of Clinton, Iowa, on Nov. 4, 2021. David Warner (84R) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Dec. 5, 2021. Jeffrey Zec (87BGS) of Brookfield, Illinois, in October 2021.

1990s

Sandra Alexandra (96PhD) of Trenton, New Jersey, on Jan. 16, 2022. Jason Biwer (95BA) of Rockford, Illinois, on Sept. 5, 2021. Martin Downing (90BFA) of Coralville on Oct. 23, 2021. Linda Reed Fink (92BGS, 97MSN) of Iowa City on Nov. 14, 2021. Alan Hallene Jr. (99PhD) of Moline, Illinois, on Dec. 14, 2021. Steven Hilby (95MA) of Sun Lakes, Arizona, on Oct. 22, 2021. Rose Jensen (93PhD) of Racine, Wisconsin, on Jan. 10, 2022. Lori Kirkpatrick (92MBA) of Hartford, Connecticut, on Dec. 29, 2021. Erik Marshall (93BBA) of Cedar Rapids on Nov. 27, 2021. Steven Rehbein (90DMA) of Omaha, Nebraska, on Dec. 3, 2021. Patricia Schnack (92MA) of Iowa City on Dec. 26, 2021. Mark Schuster (97MA) of New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Nov. 18, 2021. Kristin Sekasetz (99BBA) of Iowa City on Nov. 29, 2021. R. Shannon Stump (98BA) of Burlington, Iowa, on Jan. 1, 2022.

2000s

Scott Arnold (02BA) of Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Dec. 26, 2021. Patrick Ball (03MBA) of Central City, Iowa, on Dec. 7, 2021. Kevin Colschen (09BA) of Clinton, Iowa, on Nov. 24, 2021. Lisa Gallagher (03BLS) of Tipton, Iowa, on Oct. 28, 2021. Patrick P. M. Laverty (02BA) of Phoenix on Oct. 21, 2021. Elpidio Mariano (02MD) of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on Dec. 7, 2021. Patricia Mulcahy (01BA) of Iowa City on Nov. 3, 2021. Jason Trout (01BA) of Stewartville, Minnesota, on Nov. 25, 2021.

2010s

Robert Benesh (11BA, 15MAT) of Adel, Iowa, on Jan. 17, 2022. Chester Duda (12MS, 12PhD) of West Liberty, Iowa, on Oct. 23, 2021.

faculty & friends

Richard DeGowin of Iowa City on Nov. 24, 2021.

Carl Klaus

Founder of the University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program and a prolific author, Klaus left a lasting mark on Iowa’s writing community.

Born in Cleveland in 1932, Klaus came from a family of doctors, even expecting to become one himself. Instead, he took a different path when he went to the University of Michigan to study English, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees there before moving on to Cornell University for a PhD.

Primarily a professor, Klaus taught first at Bowdoin College in Maine from 1959 to 1962 and then at the UI until his retirement in 1997. In 1976, he established the UI Nonfiction Writing Program, which aims to help students explore new and creative approaches to nonfiction writing as well as develop an appreciation for the genre’s complex history.

In his later years as a professor and throughout his retirement, Klaus wrote frequently, publishing eight books in total, beginning with My Vegetable Love (1996) and concluding most recently with The Ninth Decade: An Octogenarian’s Chronicle (2021), exploring life after age 80. In general, he chose to write about broadly relatable topics such as gardening, the weather, and aging to connect with readers and find deeper, often more personal significance in his stories. However, he avoided claiming a particular writing style, preferring to stay flexible to “capture his true self” on the page.

Klaus died in Iowa City on Feb. 1 at age 89.