Deanne R. Koen

Deanne was born on July 25, 1939, in Lewiston, ME to Deane E. Rollins and Lydia D. Rollins and grew up a practicing Quaker in Brunswick, where she graduated valedictorian from Brunswick High School. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Bates College in Lewiston, ME and a Master of Science Degree in Biology from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

Always soft spoken and gentle, Deanne was nonetheless passionate about things that mattered to her. Growing up on a farm in Maine, she developed a childhood love of biology, which led to an educational career in that field, followed by research positions at Roscoe B Jackson Memorial Laboratory in Bar Harbor, ME and The Children’s Cancer Research Foundation (later renamed The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and also known as the “The Jimmy Fund”) in Boston, MA.

As a wife and mother she moved to Texas and then traveled the world in support of her husband’s career as a professor and researcher, including multiple years living in France while raising her young family and later a year in Japan. Deanne was an active member of the University of Texas Faculty Wives Social Club and continued to maintain the treasured friendships from that organization after her husband’s retirement from teaching. She was known for hosting elaborate formal dinner parties, including an annual LobsterFest for family, and for the 12 types of Christmas cookies she would bake every year and deliver to friends. She was a passionate believer in the Reform Party and Ross Perot’s two runs for the presidency, attending regular organizing meetings around the effort and remaining in touch with other members for the rest of her life. She was an avid supporter of her adopted home’s University of Texas Longhorns athletic teams. After her sons left home, she and her husband renewed their love of adventurous travel, including trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Egypt, Greece, and the Caribbean. In her later years she enjoyed hosting family gatherings and doting on her grandchildren, who knew that any time they visited her house that they would find a new, special treat tucked into a certain low cabinet in the kitchen, one for each of them.

Deanne was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Andrew Rollins. She was survived by her devoted husband of 58 years, Billy V. Koen, who joined her after bearing just one week apart. She is survived by her sons Kent (Jennifer) and Douglas (Sarah) and her grandchildren Brady, Kennedy, Bailey, and Vaughn.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the amazing staff at The Auberge - Cedar Park and Sonder Hospice for the compassionate care they provided to Deanne. The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Deanne’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (alzfdn.org) or a charity of your choice.