Barbara J. (Beebe) Wells

Barbara J. (Beebe) Wells, 93, of East Moline, passed away Saturday, September 3, 2022, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, IA.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1107 Tanglefoot Ln, Bettendorf, IA 52722.  Visitation will be an hour prior at the church.  Burial will be at 11am on Monday, September 12, 2022, at Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Memorials may be made to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, 2546 Tech Dr, Bettendorf, IA 52722, or Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Barbara was born on December 18, 1928, in Whittier, Iowa, the daughter of Cecil and Myrle (Fetterman) Cooper. She attended Rabbit Grove Country School. She graduated from Central City High School in 1946. She later attended Clinton Community college where she earned an associates degree. She then attended Marycrest College in Davenport. She later received her master’s in library science from the University of Northern Iowa where she graduated with honors. Barb worked in the DeWitt School System as an aide in the 2nd grade and the Junior High School. She became the Junior High School Librarian in DeWitt from 1980 until her retirement in 1994. She married DuWayne Beebe in 1948.Together they had four sons: Larry, Gene, Allen and Gail. She later married Richard Wells June 18, 1994, in Davenport, IA. Richard passed away in February 2016.

She was a member of the Iowa State Education Association, the National Education Association, and Solo Steppers Square Dancing Club. Barb was a member of the DeWitt Methodist Church for many years before moving to the Quad Cities area and joining Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bettendorf. Her strong belief in God supported her throughout her life. She volunteered at the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center and delivered meals to seniors for Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed reading, playing cards, knitting, crocheting, and sewing, especially her unique Christmas stocking of which everyone in the family had their own personalized one. She also enjoyed visiting with friends, traveling and family gatherings were very important to her.

Barb is survived by her four sons, Larry (Christine) Beebe, Davenport, IA, Gene (Linda) Beebe, Fort Madison, IA, Allen Beebe, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and Gail (Michelle) Beebe, Marshalltown, IA; siblings Joe (Darlene) Cooper and Rachel Clark, and brother-in-law Don (Daisy) Beebe; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; five stepchildren, Richard (Jani) Wells, Neposet, IL, James (Debra) Wells, La Porte, IN, Kathleen (Alan) Ahrens Colona, IL, Thomas (Sue Ann) Wells, Annawan, IL, Timothy (Cynthia) Wells, Geneseo, IL; nine step-grandchildren, and thirteen step great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Richard, sister Mary Brockmeier, and daughter-in-law Sheri.

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