Deborah J. Randle

Cedar Rapids

The bravest woman I have ever known passed away on April 20, after a yearslong struggle with various medical issues. Deborah Jeanne Strong was born on Oct. 27, 1949, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She lived here for her whole life.

She graduated from Washington High School in 1967 and attended the University of Northern Iowa to pursue her dream of following in her parents’ footsteps to become a teacher. Upon graduation, she was hired by

the Cedar Rapids School District and taught at Johnson Elementary and later Piece Elementary. She received a Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa’s Department

of Education. She was a hard-working teacher, meticulous in her preparation and her devotion to her students. She was once described as the nice teacher who didn’t yell. She retired in the mid-1990s.

Deb did attend the World Science Fiction Convention in New Orleans. She met several science fiction writers but only had a passing interest in the subject. She attended several UFO conventions when they were held in Denver, Colo. She was interested in the subject but not obsessed by it. Both activities were inspired by her husband.

In retirement, she continued her love of ice cream, buying whole flats of six cartons at once, she perfected her love of shopping, and was always searching for teddy bears. She amassed a large collection and often donated them for children in need. She was quite generous, contributing to various charities in Cedar Rapids and a few selected national organizations. She was kind to a fault, wishing to help everyone.

She was even-tempered unless she felt cheated. She was strong-willed, intelligent, and quite beautiful. She was surprised when she didn’t win the lottery, but played it each week. She watched the news religiously and read the newspaper daily. She had strong opinions on many diverse topics but rarely expressed them to others. She disliked movies and television shows filled with violence, preferring games shows, especially Jeopardy!.

She met her declining health with courage, not asking, “Why,” but what can I do to get better. She knew much about her health issues, asking questions about the treatments. She did her best to follow the advice, but sometimes just knew that advice was not for her.

She knew the end was very near and asked to see her brother and his family. She passed peacefully in her sleep knowing that she was loved. She spent her last hours surrounded by family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Bonnie (Curry) Strong. She is survived by her husband Kevin; her brother Ken Strong and sister-in-law Deb Strong (an interesting coincidence); her beloved nieces Brianna Strong and Shawna Mahoney; her sister Susan and niece Carly and nephew Kyle.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center or the Mercy Oldorf Hospice House.

The last words she ever said to me were, “I love you.”

Good-bye, Debith, I love you too.

Online condolences may be left at www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries.