Koni S Steele

Koni Sue Steele, 57, of Iowa City passed away on January 23, 2026 at University of Iowa Health Care, while awaiting approval for an organ transplant.

Koni was born December 18, 1968 in Kirksville, Missouri to Bob and Judy (Zeigler) Steele. She spent many of her early years in Lost Nation, Iowa, where Koni made lifelong friends and pursued interests including gymnastics, roller skating, delivering morning papers, and swimming laps across the street at the Nicely's pool, in support of the American Red Cross. Koni also treasured spending time with extended family in Kirksville, and at the family's rural property in the woods swimming and floating on the frog pond her grandfather created in 1963, as well as swimming at aunt Wanda's pool, and pontoon boating with the Stanley cousins.

Koni was always fun loving, with a mischievous spirit. Koni provided constant entertainment for her family and friends. Koni also enjoyed upping the stakes with her neighborhood friends playing countless pranks and shenanigans on one another.

Koni also made friends wherever she went. Koni never met a stranger. She befriended an elderly widowed war veteran who was a neighbor. His name was Austin, and Koni spent countless hours listening to him relay the story of his life, while Koni patiently listened.

In 1985, the Steele family moved to Oxford, Iowa, where Bob became school superintendent and Judy transferred to Johnson County DHS. At her new high school, Koni sought out a position with the Clipperettes Baseball team, becoming their manager, and made countless friends, many of which she enjoyed maintaining lifelong connections.

While in high school, Koni started a job at Eagle's Market in Coralville, and focused quickly on the deli section, finding her footing and excelling in the preparation of food. Her family was from then on grateful for its first foodie, as Koni provided meals every holiday for family.

Koni graduated from Clear Creek Amana High School in 1987 and attended Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa, graduating in 1994.

Koni worked as a call center trainer and teacher in both community college and corporate settings in Missouri from 1997 to 2004. But Koni's proudest accomplishments in this era were her sons Hayden and Ethan. She returned to the Kirksville house in the woods in 2004 to be a full time mom and help care for her parents.

In 2006, Koni met John Deeth on MySpace, and they had their first date, with Hayden and Ethan as chaperones, at the Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal, Missouri. Koni returned to Iowa City and married John on September 14, 2007.

In Iowa CIty Koni worked in several call center roles and shared many adventures with John, Hayden and Ethan. The Deeth-Steele-Cox family vacationed to Orlando in 2012, and John and Koni saw a total eclipse of the sun together in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in April 2024. Koni was also a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and a volunteer for the Johnson County Democrats.

Koni will be missed by her husband John Deeth, their sons Hayden Cox and Ethan Cox (Caraline Ainesworth) and granddaughter Hazel Cox, her sisters Keri Steele and Lori Steele (Mickey Cook), nephew Owen Cook, and her beloved dog Teddy. She was preceded in death by her parents Bob and Judy Steele and many other relatives in the Steele and Zeigler families.

While Koni was unable to receive a transplant in time, she believed in organ donation and was able to donate her eyes to the Iowa Eye Bank.

Koni's memorial will be Friday, January 30 at Lensing Funeral & Cremation, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City, with visitation from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. and services at 4:00 p.m. Burial will be alongside her parents at Pratt Cemetery near Novinger, Missouri in the spring.

Online condolences at www.lensingfuneral.com