Carol Wille De Bruyn

Carol Sue De Bruyn, 90, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully of heart failure on April 27, 2025, at the Iowa City Bird House hospice with family and friends at her side.

Carol’s request for no public visitation will be honored. A small family service and burial in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Carol’s memory may consider a donation to a charity of their choice in her name. Given her passion for reading, some may wish to support organizations promoting literacy, the Iowa City Public Library, or other local libraries.

Carol was born April 21, 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri. The daughter of Arthur Earl Wille and Sue (Rasmussen) Wille, she was raised in Garner, Iowa and graduated from Garner High School in 1953. She moved to Iowa City for college, studied elementary education, and graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1957.

While a student, Carol met William H. De Bruyn on a blind date and married him the following December 29, 1956. The honeymoon drive from Garner to Minneapolis stopped in Albert Lea, MN, when a blizzard got the best of their convertible with its cloth top and limited heater. They ultimately did have a prolonged honeymoon in Europe, which Carol enjoyed, except for the omnipresent pigeons in the cities.

In 1957, Carol started teaching in the Iowa City Community School District and continued for over 30 years, almost entirely at Kirkwood Elementary School and in the 2nd grade. Her passion for teaching children to read was apparent from her success with many who struggled until reaching her classroom.

She always cheered for the “underdog” and those less fortunate, and displayed a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln given his humble Midwestern roots and sense of fairness. With her kind, beautiful smile she was always positive and never judged. She was humble, honest and fair in all she did.

The gratitude of students and parents was great and remained apparent decades after she retired; former parents and students would approach her and express their gratitude for the gift of reading and for believing in them.

Carol’s influence was recently apparent on her last night in the hospital. A nurse recognized her and they talked about her children that Carol taught decades earlier. Later that night the nurse returned with a group that “filled the room” so they all could thank Carol and say goodbye.

Carol was a passionate reader. Her favorite activity was her weekly trip to the Iowa City Public Library, where she checked out and read 7-10 books each week. She loved mysteries, and by reading she could go anywhere in the world without actually travelling.

When Carol retired from Kirkwood, she volunteered and then worked at the Helen K. Rossi Guest House inside UIHC. She enjoyed helping families of hospitalized patients and received the “Above and Beyond” award for her selfless service.

More recently, Carol continued to serve by helping her son Dirk and grandson, Christopher with chores around the home. Each day she would say she “got all my work done” before sitting down to read. She also cared for her beloved rescue cat, Salem.

Carol survived 3 different cancers, and was hospitalized many times, yet she remained selflessly devoted to her family and others, always putting them first. Even as a frequent patient, she would teach medical students how to put an NG tube down because she’d had so many she could do it on herself.

She received many compliments for her kind, beautiful smile even when hospitalized and sick. She had few material possessions; the one luxury she allowed were stylish eyeglasses from Discerning Eye for which she received many compliments.

Carol lived a wonderful, consequential life of selfless service to others. She made a real difference in the lives of many, was dearly loved, and will be missed.

Carol is survived by her sons, Van H. De Bruyn (Dana) and Dirk W. De Bruyn; brother, Alan Wille; grandchildren, Christopher Scott, Collin (Mary Alice), Shea, and Brynn; great-grandchild, Lacey Belle; dear friend, Margery McCardell; and beloved cat Salem.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William De Bruyn; and her grandson Dylan.