Sonja Lively, 76

April 5, 1946 —

March 20, 2023

 

Formerly of CRESCO - Sonja Lively, age 76, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. 

A visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Interment will be held in Cresco, Iowa at a later date. 

Sonja was born on April 5, 1946 in Cresco to Elder and Marlys (Melaas) Hoines. Following graduation from Crestwood High School, she attended the University of Iowa for nursing school, where she obtained her Bachelors and Masters degrees. 

Sonja taught one year at Mercy Hospital Nursing School in Iowa City before moving to Wisconsin to teach at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh for the next five years. She returned to Iowa City and accepted a teaching position at the University of Iowa, where she was a tenured Assistant Professor for the next 36 years, before retiring in 2012. 

Sonja met Dan Lively while both were attending university and were married in August 1970. They had one son, Geoff. 

Her love of teaching was only surpassed by her love of the students she taught, many of whom have kept in touch with her over the years. 

She had many passions and accomplishments in her life. She loved to golf, peruse her favorite cookbooks for a new recipe to try and looking for her next travel destination. All these things brought joy to Sonja, however, none more so than her love of family, friends and, above all, her grandchildren. 

Sonja is survived by her husband, Dan; son, Geoff (Punam) Lively; grandchildren, Emilia and Ryan; and her brother John (Cindy), as well as other extended family members. 

She was preceded in death by her parents. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation and online condolences may be shared with www.lensingfuneral.com.