Michaela Hartnett Armstrong

Michaela Hartnett Armstrong, 73, of Coralville, IA lived a vivid life and died peacefully with family and friends by her side on January 5, 2026.

Born in Lafayette, IN on January 11, 1952 to William Edward and Francesca Campbell Hartnett. Michaela was a first rate welcoming committee for two sisters when the family lived in Lawrence, KS. They moved to Massachusetts, where three more siblings were born. First in Worcester and then Newton Highlands, the Hartnetts lived in neighborhoods bustling with children. Michaela formed lifelong bonds with friends as they navigated school, snowy winters, and rocking out to 45 rpm records. She was a responsible, creative, and spirited child. In the summer of '68, her family packed up the Dodge van and relocated to Plattsburgh, NY. There they lived in an 1880's house that would become the family's headquarters for 50 years, a home always open to visitors who would be treated to laughter, games, and sing-alongs.

She attended Newton South and Plattsburgh high schools (Class of 1970), earning her Bachelor of Science in Education from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1974. She taught school in Culpeper, VA for a year before marrying her college beau, Marc Armstrong. Their academic life had them moving to Charlotte, NC, then Champaign-Urbana, IL, where she completed a Masters in Education and worked in a Montessori school, and finally to Iowa City, where she laid down deep roots. The two divorced in 1992. She visited family regularly and had an epic reputation for letter-writing, gift giving, and phone calling.

Michaela taught kindergarten at Penn Elementary in North Liberty, IA for 26 years. Her thoughtful preparation for each unit in school focused on holistic, creative experiences for children, making her a memorable instructor. Encouraging others to spread their wings, going beyond the traditional curriculum, was one of her many talents as a born teacher. Her career spanned changes in public education; she cherished the days of fewer standardized tests. She developed an extracurricular program, Passports, in which local Iowa residents guided students in exploring world cultures. She had her own intercultural experience teaching first grade in Monterrey, Mexico from 2002-2003.

Michaela, "Mick" to her family, possessed an eclectic, endearing personal style of dress and interaction, a true original. No one was a stranger to Michaela for long. She made recurrent trips to Monhegan Island, ME with sister Marita, and traveled to France and Italy with friends. She took pleasure in life's beauty as well as its unfolding mysteries. She decorated her world with bold colors and loved the art of Frida Kahlo. Mick believed in the cultural significance of children's literature. From museum shows, to author readings at Prairie Lights, to movies at the Film Scene, to concerts at Hancher, her dance card was full. Poetry became an increasing passion in her life: she authored three books of poems and met with a poetry group up to her final days. A loyal, gregarious soul, she was loved by all her communities.

She lived with renal cancer from 2011 on but never let her many treatments or surgeries define her. She kept an optimistic outlook and was eternally grateful to her kidney donor. Her decades-long friendship with Ann Holton provided a steady compass through her medical odyssey.

Michaela was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Tim. Left to carry forward her memory are her siblings: Marita Hartnett, Seana Remillard (Patrick), Jonathan Hartnett and his daughter Alexandra, Cassandra Hartnett (Marianne Taylor); nephew, Rubin Remillard (Blakeley) and their daughters: Titania and Rin; and nephew, Eli Remillard (Linda Yu) and their daughter, Uma.

The family would like to thank Carolyn Poulakos for invaluable insight and hands-on care; the staff of Iowa Health Care and Stirlingshire of Coralville for years of attention; as well as Solon Retirement Village and Moments Hospice for care in her final days.

In Michaela's memory, please consider donating to the Dragonfly Transplant Fund, the Tim Hartnett Endowed Fund at SUNY Plattsburgh (write "Tim Hartnett Endowment" in Other/Memo) or a charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City with a reception to follow. Pre-service calling hours will begin at 10:00 AM.