Tracey Marie (VanHyfte) Ward

Tracey Marie Ward, 56, of LeClaire, IA formerly of Annawan, passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at UnityPoint Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI, surrounded by her family. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 11:00 am at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Atkinson Chapel. Pastor Terry Lancaster will officiate. Burial will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Annawan, IL. Visitation will be held from 9 – 11 am prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Annawan Fire and Rescue.

Tracey was born on May 12, 1968, in Geneseo, the daughter of William Jr. and Rose (Chambers) Vanhyfte. She graduated from Annawan High School in 1986. She attended Illinois State University and graduated with her bachelor’s in child development in 1990. Tracey married the love of her life, Andy Ward on March 10, 2007 and he survives. Tracey worked and operated her own daycare before her kidney failure in 1996. She underwent her first kidney transplant in 1997 and her second in 2004. She was a manager at Lane Bryant for 20 years, and a manager at Dress Barn for 10 years. Tracey also worked briefly at the Moline Airport. Tracey was known for her contagious laugh. She had a real zest for life and never failed to make others around her smile. She loved family gatherings, especially spending time with nieces and nephews and her puppies Gertie and Meka. She enjoyed being in her yard on hot summer days. Tracey also enjoyed sewing, attending auctions, thrifting, and fishing. She also had a passion for studying Civil War history.

Those left to cherish her memory include her mother, Rose VanHyfte of Annawan; husband, Andy Ward of LeClaire, IA; sister, Angela (Keith) Cochran of Litchfield, IL; nieces and nephews, Selina and Nicholas Cochran, Rosy VanHyfte, and Ben and Bella Ward; brother-in-law Patrick (Gina) Ward of Bettendorf, IA; mother and father-in-law, John (Barbara) Ward of Bettendorf, IA.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, father, William VanHyfte Jr; brother, Tim VanHyfte; aunt, Pat Neuleib; uncles, Lynn Neuleib and Jim Chambers; cousin, Eileen Fortner, special friend, Eileen VanDeVoorde Lopez and puppy, Meka.

Tracey’s family would like to thank her donor’s and their families as well as The University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin Hospitals for their loving care of Tracey.