Kimberly Anne Cooke

Kimberly Anne Cooke

Iowa City

Kimberly Anne Cooke, 65, passed away in her Iowa City home on Wednesday, June 5, with a cherished friend at her side.

Kim was born July 8, 1958, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Anne (Lowry) Cooke and Virgil Cook. She spent her earliest years in Covington, Kentucky, before moving to Winona, Minnesota. She graduated in 1976 from Winona Senior High School.

Kim graduated from the University of Iowa in 1982 with bachelor’s degrees in sociology and in communication and theatre arts. She returned to school to complete coursework in art and art history, and in 1989 was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She had a thirty-year career as a graphic designer at the University of Iowa, where she retired in February 2024.

Kim was a devoted mother, fierce in her advocacy for children with special needs, creating a network of support and touching the lives of so many families. Kim was preceded in death by her mother, Anne. She is survived by her daughter, Jilly.

A celebration of Kim’s life will be held Sunday, August 4, at 1 p.m., at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City. A light luncheon will follow in the Kirkwood Room. Please wear purple, Kim’s favorite color.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, www.seiso.us or to Revival Theatre Company, www.revivaltheatrecompany.com.

A full obituary can be found at www.lensingfuneral.com.