Barbara Jean Sanders

Barbara Jean Sanders, 95, of Davenport, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Kahl Home in Davenport. A private family graveside service was held at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Catfish Jazz Society, PO Box 526, East Moline, IL, 61244. Barbara was a charter member of the Catfish Jazz Society, founded in 1989. Memorials supplement the scholarship fund for music students and support live music at monthly jam sessions.

Barbara was born January 27, 1930, in Wilton Junction, IA, daughter of Harry and Elise (Paysen) Brix. She graduated from Davenport Central High School in 1948 and was previously married to Ernest L. Sanders.

Barbara managed the two Davenport substations of Brix Cleaners, her father’s dry cleaning business, and was an accomplished seamstress there. Into her 90’s she was still sought out by her former customers at the cleaners to repair their clothes. She made beautiful wedding dresses for her daughter and daughter-in-law. Barbara had a good sense of humor and after a daughter’s divorce and remarriage, she quipped that the next wedding dress she made would be reversible!

She loved swing music and, in her younger years, dancing the night away at Davenport’s Coliseum Ballroom and Hunter’s Club in Rock Island. Into her late 80’s and early 90’s, she continued to enjoy hearing music by The Manny Lopez Big Band at the Speakeasy and swing music sponsored by the Catfish Jazz Society at the Columbus Club.

As a young mother, Barbara shared her love of the outdoors with her children through many walks, picnics and ferry boat rides across the Mississippi River. As a grandmother, she made it a point to give her grandchildren experiences like taking them bowling and to the circus, and, playing games with them as she thought they had enough “stuff.”

In late retirement, besides listening to music and reading the newspaper, Barbara spent many hours on her patio, enjoying the weather of all seasons. Tributes to Barbara always include that she made one heck of a cherry pie, how kind she was, that she was a hard worker and a very special woman.

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Vicki Ingle, (Richard), Davenport; Edward Sanders, Bettendorf; Gary Sanders, (Dawn), Davenport; daughter-in-law, Debbie Sanders, Atkinson, IL and Jan Eaton, (Rick), Eldridge; grandchildren: Dennis Dewey; Julie Smith; Nick Sanders (Ashley); Jason Sanders; Cory Sanders; Kris Oswald (Heather); Derek Sanders (Kim); Trisha Keel (Josh); Kelsey Mickelson (Tyler); Chad Gaskey and Brian Luukkonen; 18 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild and half-sister, Diane (Brix) Huston.

Preceding her in death are her parents, son, Michael and brothers, Laverne Brix and Dean Brix.