Brenda Newkirk

Brenda L. Newkirk , 74, of Moline, Illinois and formerly of Bettendorf, Iowa, died Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at her home.

Funeral Services & Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, August 18, 2014 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bettendorf.  Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Birthright, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Father Conroy's Vineyard of Hope in Davenport, Iowa.

Brenda was born as Barbara Ann Getzie to Julia Getzie on September 9, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois.  She was adopted by her loving parents, Oswald & Margaretta (Werthmann) Steinmann and by a host of aunts, uncles & cousins.

She was united in marriage to James A. Newkirk at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on September 9, 1961.  He preceded her in death on December 25, 1999.

Brenda was a cake decorator and with James, owned and operated the former Strawberry Crate in LeClaire, Iowa from 1980 to 1984.

Those left to honor her memory include her daughters, Andrea Howe of Niantic, Illinois and Dawna (Michael) McGovern of Moline; her sons, Andy (Carol) Newkirk of Davenport and Thaddeus “T.J.” (Amy) Newkirk of Fergus Falls, Minnesota; her grandchildren, Mitchell Newkirk, Jordan and Olivia Howe, Cameron and Nickolis McGovern and Morgan, Abigail and Luke Newkirk; her great-granddaughter, Gabriella Howe; her brother, Bradford “Bud” (DeAnna) Steinmann of Naples, Florida; and her uncle, James (Dolores) Getzie of Pinckneyville, Illinois.

In addition to her husband, James, Brenda was preceded in death by her parents.