Barbara Ann VanHyfte

Barbara Ann VanHyfte, 73, passed from her earthly paradise to her heavenly paradise on January 14, 2024, at Kona Community Hospital, Kona, Hawaii.  A Mass of Chrisitan Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at St. Malachy Catholic Church.  Burial will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, at the church, followed by a Rosary.  Memorials may be directed to the Barbara VanHyfte Memorial Fund.

Barbara was born December 28, 1950, in Geneseo.  She graduated from Annawan High School, class of 1969.  She received her Art Education from Marycrest College – Davenport in 1972 and her master’s in management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1985.  She served as an Extension Advisor in Rock Island County after graduation from Marycrest.  She worked at John Deere where she held supervisory positions for the majority of her 30-year career, until retiring in 2005.  She also worked at Schnuck’s Grocery Store until it closed and then Walgreen’s until her death. 

Barbara was proud to be a “Henry County Farm Kid” and helped on the family farm when time permitted.  She loved spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews.  She enjoyed flower gardening, dinner theatre, and traveling.  She was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Moline and devoted her life to helping others.  She will be missed by her friends who will remember her unwavering loyalty and tremendous sense of humor.

Survivors include her sister, Bernadine (Chuck) VanHyfte Schrader of Geneseo; nieces and nephew, Christine VanHyfte, Cynthia (Chris) Kucia, and Noah Schrader; great-niece and nephew, Charlotte Kucia and Christopher Kucia; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jack and Carol Lawrence.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Sparrow; and brother, Robert VanHyfte.