About Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir
Lived 1934 – 1998 (aged 64). Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir was an Icelandic politician.
Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir (; 14 August 1934 – 12 October 1998) was the First Lady of Iceland from 1996 to 1998. She was the first wife of Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.
Guðrún Katrín studied archaeology and sociology. She was the General Manager of the Postal Workers Union for nearly 20 years, and managed a clothing store in downtown Reykjavík. She was also active in politics and held a city council post in the town of Seltjarnarnes for 16 years. She married Ólafur in 1974 and the following year gave birth to twin daughters, Guðrún Tinna and Svanhildur Dalla.
Guðrún Katrín was very popular in Iceland, and her charm and charisma are considered by many as one of the main reasons her husband was elected president of Iceland in June 1996. Guðrún Katrín was diagnosed with leukemia in September 1997. She spent the last few months of her life under the care of specialists in Seattle, Washington, with her family by her side, until her death in October 1998. Her death after a long and difficult struggle, at the age of 64, was a shock to her family and the Icelandic nation.
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Important facts
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People whose lives overlapped Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir?
First Lady of Iceland
When was Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir born?
Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir was born on 14 August 1934 in Reykjavík.
When did Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir die?
Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir died on 12 October 1998 in Seattle.
What was Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir's occupation?
Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir was a politician.
What nationality was Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir?
Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir was Icelandic.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir
· DBpedia: Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir. https://biography.guide/gudrun-katrin-thorbergsdottir/
MLA: "Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gudrun-katrin-thorbergsdottir/.
Chicago: "Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gudrun-katrin-thorbergsdottir/.
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