Nancy Lee Honohan

Nancy L. Honohan, 90, of Iowa City, passed away on December 9, 2025 at Featherstone Assisted Living.

Visitation will be held from 11:30am-12:30pm on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. A funeral service will follow at 12:30pm. Interment will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Nancy was born on May 7, 1935 in Washington, Iowa. She was the daughter of Dr. James M. Leary and Amy E. Leary. She was raised and lived in Keota, Iowa and graduated from Keota High School in 1953.

Nancy attended Parson's College in Fairfield, Iowa and received her Elementary Teaching Certificate in 1955. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa in 1976.

During a snowstorm one weekend, Nancy was unable to return home to Keota and was invited to ride home with her colleague Kay Honohan. It happened to be the same weekend that Kay's brother, Jay was coming for a visit as well. Nancy's decision to join turned into a 70-year romance and the couple married on August 17, 1958 in Keota. They lived in Marion, Iowa before moving to Iowa City in 1960. Two children were born to the marriage, Jay H. Honohan III and Valerie Honohan Ruth.

During Nancy's teaching career, she taught primary grades at Union-Whitten, Vinton, Marion, Wellman and Solon, Iowa. Nancy started a summer reading program first through sixth graders in Marion. She taught first grade at Lucas School in the Iowa City Community School District from 1977-1997. After her retirement from full-time teaching she was a substitute teacher for the Iowa City Community School District from 1997-2005.

Nancy was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority and served on the Panhellanic Board at the University of Iowa. She was a member of various local and state teacher's organizations.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Jane Keyser; brother, Dr. James Michael Leary; nephews: Michael R. Keyser and James Paul Keyser. She is survived by her husband, Jay and her children Jay Honohan III of Iowa City and Valerie Honohan Ruth (John) of Winfield, Illinois. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Ensign Ethan Ruth (USN) stationed in Charleston, South Carolina and Jaelynn C. Ruth of Winfield, Illinois; sister-in-laws, Karolyn Leary of Washington, Iowa and Kay C. Flockhart of Morristown, Tennessee; nieces: Calista Flockhart (Harrison) and their son, Liam of Los Angeles, California and Dr. Kecia Leary (Kyle Vogel) of Iowa City and their children Ben and Michaela; nephews: Col. James Paul Leary (USA, Ret.) and his wife, YooSong and their daughter Evangeline Leary, Gary Flockhart (Lorraine) of Terryville, Connecticut, Andrew Kaiser, Steve Kaiser of Waterport, New York and his daughter, Dr. Abby Kaiser of Seattle, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Suncrest Hospice.