Bess Magee Wellner

DAVENPORT — Bess Magee Wellner, 79, of Davenport, died July 10, 2011, at Manor Care Center Utica Ridge after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at the Runge Mortuary. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2011, at the Runge Mortuary. Per Bess’ wishes, cremation rites will be accorded following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Bess was born in Dunkerton, Iowa, July 20, 1931, to Paul Henry and Mary Beatrice (Underwood) Magee. On December 30, 1950, she was united in marriage to Robert Wellner in Dunkerton. They moved to Davenport in 1952 where Bess embarked on a career of educating all students to their fullest potential. After graduating from Marycrest College, she began teaching math and then later was one of the founders of the Gifted and Talented Program (AGATE) for the Davenport School System and retired in 1993 after 37 years. She was very caring and involved as she taught, and impacted the lives of many of her students. She was presented with the coveted Golden Apple Award in 1993.

Bess was an avid traveler and visited all 50 U.S. states and over 70 countries. She loved reading, 1955 Thunderbirds, crewel embroidery having created and made a picture of all of the Davenport Schools, and had a passion for genealogy and was proud to know that Daniel Butterfield who wrote “Taps” was one of her relatives.

Through the years she was active in various local organizations including: The Friends of the Davenport Library, Scott County Genealogical Society, Rock Island County Historical Society, Friendship Force, Ambassador for the Davenport Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Plus 60 Club, Festival of Trees Volunteer, Bix Volunteer, Colonel Davenport Home Volunteer, and Antoine LeClaire Home Volunteer.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Robert, their children Jill Sager, St. Louis, MO, and Marney (Todd) Tope, Davenport; grandchildren, Paul (Floyd Welsh) Sager, St. Louis, MO, Jill E. Huff, St. Louis, MO, Eric (Carrie Berry) Sager, Davenport, Kelsey Tope, Mason Tope, Brennen Tope, and Mallory Tope, Davenport. Her great-granchildren, Albert Huff III, Zoey Huff, St. Louis, MO, Evan Sager and Breanna Berry, Davenport; her sisters, Belle Boyer, Jesup, IA, Dawn (Larry) Fisher, Davenport; her brother Dan, Long Beach, CA; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, other relatives and wonderful friends. Special friends include her Eisenhower School Group; McGuire’s “Literary” Group; and The Scott County Genealogical Group; and very special friend and fellow traveler, Joan Giudici, Davenport.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother and step-father, son Richard, and sister Hope Pyle.

Bess’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Manor Care Utica Ridge for their kind and compassionate care shown to Bess during her stay, especially Dawn Land, and Heartland Hospice.

Condolences may be expressed to the family by viewing Bess’s obituary at www.therungemortuary.com.