Carolyn C. “Cay” Zwicki

Carolyn C. “Cay” Zwicki, age 75, of Coralville, IA, passed away on December 31, 2025, at the University of Iowa Downtown Medical Center while surrounded by her loving family. To honor Cay’s life, a private family burial will be held at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield, IA, at a later date. The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Cay’s family.

Cay was born on October 25, 1950, in Bloomfield, IA, to William B. and Marianne (Pirtle) Ashmead. She was a woman who knew what she liked and was uncompromising in her high standards. Cay moved often in her life, leaving behind good friends in Maryland, Missouri, and Arizona, and many Iowa towns. She spent the majority of her working career as a CNA, caring for patients in Arizona for many years, and concluded her career at the Ottumwa Regional Hospital. She found great joy in helping those in ill health to feel better and felt strongly that her patients should be treated with respect and dignity. When a neighbor in Arizona became bedbound and unable to care for himself, Cay gave up her home and free time to live with him and become his primary caregiver, all while maintaining a full-time job. 

In her free-time, Cay spent as much time as she could enjoying the natural beauty of God’s creation in the world around her. In her youth she enjoyed swimming, running, riding horses, and spending carefree hours with her family on Canyon Lake, AZ. She learned to waterski, and the lake was her happy place. In her later years she enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers, making salsa, and cooking. She loved animals, and was rarely without a pet to pamper. Cay also enjoyed making and painting ceramics and playing cards with her family when time allowed. If a little solitude made its way into her day, you would likely find her reading a western or romance with a Diet Coke near at hand. Cay also spent countless hours driving her Amish friends to and fro, and made many friends along the way. She enjoyed online shopping and finding gadgets she thought would make her family’s lives easier. Her chief source of pride and joy were her beloved grandchildren. When she had to move to long term care, one of her first orders of business was to procure frames for the many pictures of family and her beloved dog, Bailey, that brightened her days. Cay will be missed greatly, but her family finds comfort in knowing that her pain and suffering are no more, and she is at rest.

Those left to cherish the memory of Cay include her two daughters, Kimshiro “Kim” (Wayne) Hermsen, Dyersville, IA, and Krista (Wayne) Kube, New Ulm, MN; her five adored grandchildren, Mya Kube, Bradyn Kube, Kyan Kube, Ian Hermsen and Norah Hermsen; her mother, Marianne Ashmead, Moberly, MO; her siblings, Joan (Mike) Wildman, Iowa City, IA, and Chris (Bob) Welsh, Moberly, MO; her nieces, Janelle (Jon) Weiss, Angela (Jeff) Carson and Jennifer (Gary) Warren; ex-husband and friend, Bob Zwicki and numerous extended family and friends.

Cay was preceded in death by her father. 

The family would like to extend their deep gratitude to the medical professionals at University of Iowa Hospitals ICU who provided Cay and her family with exceptional care, compassion, and empathy. We would also like to thank the staff at Lantern Park Specialty Care in Coralville for their responsive care and kindness to Cay.

Online condolences may be shared with Cay’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com