Father Guillermo Treviño, Jr., pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty, died on Friday. His sister, Mariela Treviño-Luna, said in a social media post on Friday evening that Treviño had died unexpectedly after a brief illness caused by complications from diabetes. He was 39 years old. In addition to his pastoral duties in […]
In Memoriam
Posted inCentral Iowa
Ozzy Osbourne, British rock god known for an infamous show in Des Moines, dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne has died. Heavy metal’s “Prince of Darkness,” who later had a second career as an avuncular reality TV star, was 76 years old. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,” the Osborne family said in […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Phill the water buffalo, survivor of a daring escape and gunshot wound, dies after sudden illness
Phill, the water buffalo, who made national headlines and won the hearts of Iowans last summer when he escaped from the person who bought him to slaughter for meat last summer, has died. Iowa Farm Sanctuary (IFS) posted on social media on Thursday that they had rushed Phill to Iowa State University’s Large Animal Hospital […]
Posted inLetters
Letters: Remembering Virginia Visker, a true Iowa City character
By Charlie Huyck Few have the honor, the guts, the threshold for pain, or the responsibility of living as deeply as Virginia Visker. I knew her best from the clothing shop she opened in the Hall Mall in the early ’80s. Her door was always open to angst-ridden junior high and high school kids searching […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Contemplating the life of Joseph Dobrian
By Kent Williams, Iowa City Joseph Dobrian died on Nov. 22, but his obituary wasn’t published until Dec. 12. To most people in Iowa City, he was the guest columnist at the Iowa City Press Citizen most likely to piss people off with his opinions. It isn’t hard to see why if you take a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The importance of being Colleen Ernst
Colleen Ernst did not blend in, even in 1980s Iowa City. She was imposingly tall, with brightly dyed red hair, multicolored plastic glasses and homemade earrings. I met her because my sons were in a home daycare with her son Max, named for the surrealist artist Max Ernst. She’s best known now for striking up […]
Posted inCommunity/News
In memoriam: Ashlee Hopkins’ thoughtful, joyous spirit stretches beyond this community
Ashlee Louise Hopkins (Davis) was involved in a horrible biking accident on Sunday, Sept. 15. Despite her resilience, strength, and the incredible care of UIHC emergency and SNICU care teams, her injuries were too severe. On Sept. 23, following an honor walk at UIHC surrounded by friends and family, Ashlee made a final gift of […]
Posted inCommunity/News
In memoriam: Chris Wiersema, curator of the weird and wonderful
An obituary by Andre Perry Christopher (Chris) Wiersema of Iowa City died on Wednesday, March 13, unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep. A public memorial will take place on Sunday, April 7 at the Englert Theatre from 2-5 p.m. The Englert is located at 221 E Washington St in downtown Iowa City. Chris was born […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Sharon Malheiro, attorney who helped win marriage equality for Iowans, has died
Sharon Malheiro, an attorney whose career of fighting “for the underdog” spanned decades and who secured some of the most significant civil rights victories in Iowa, died on Sunday night. Her death was announced on social media by One Iowa, the nonprofit advocacy organization for LGBTQ Iowans she co-founded in 2006. “Sharon’s legacy of service, […]
Posted inLetters
In memoriam: Trevor Lee Hopkins’ small stakes
This month, Iowa City lost its Swiss Army knife, Trevor Hopkins. “Trigger,” “Sheriff,” sound guy, bartender, drummer, brother, dog dad, cook, uncle, tireless encourager, ray of social media sunshine, nickname artist, husband to wonderful Ashlee, and longtime Little Village distributor, Trevor’s big heart chose a quiet, cold, homebound Saint Patrick’s Day to finally give out […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
RIP Norm Macdonald, the man who mugged Iowa Athletics
Comedian Norm Macdonald passed away Tuesday, Sept. 14, at age 61. If you were born in the last millennium, you know Norm Macdonald. He was on Saturday Night Live from 1993-1998, including as the fake anchor on the “Weekend Update” news segment from 1994 to ’97. The style of humor that Macdonald brought to that […]
Posted inLetters
In memoriam: John Rapson, 1953-2021
I’m tearing my house apart looking for a piece of paper. The hunt delays the grief. That paper led me to take all of Ira “John” Rapson’s classes and to gratefully leap when he called me back into his ensembles years after graduation, playing first in jazz vespers, then in Hot Tamale Louie and now […]
