Sandra “Sandy” Lynn Lane Barker

Sandra “Sandy” Lynn Lane Barker

Keosauqua

Sandra “Sandy” Lynn Lane Barker, 76 of Keosauqua passed away on Friday, June 30, 2023 at Van Buren County Hospital. Funeral service will be at 10:30 AM Friday, July 14, 2023 at Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua with Larry Shipley officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Miller Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will open at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 13, 2023 with family present 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Pedrick Funeral Home. Memorials in Sandy’s honor may be made toward her grandchildren’s, Caitlin and Colton’s education fund and may be left at the funeral home or mailed to the family at 24843 170th St., Keosauqua, IA 52565. Friends may leave online condolences and view the live stream of the service at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Much appreciation is expressed to the Dementia Caregiver Group of Fairfield, Iowa who supported Christy and her family for many years as well as nurses and staff who cared for Sandra.

Sandy was born June 10, 1947 in Vinton, Iowa to the late Alvin Lane and Doris (Stagers) Lane of Eldon, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert “Bob” Craig Barker, whom she wed on August 16, 1970 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale. They had one child, Christy Ann Barker.

Sandra was a graduate of Cardinal High School, Class of 1965. She immediately moved to Fairfield at age 18 to begin her work career and become an independent woman. She worked at Universal Factory and then the Jefferson County Courthouse in Fairfield, Iowa in the 70’s driving a new Barracuda car. She and her husband began a family and expanded the farm. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, she worked part-time for Gilbert Grain in Stockport as well as Farm Bureau (Lola Hayes) in Keosauqua. She was a Stockport First Responder as well as a full-time farmer, a wife, and a mother working side by side with her husband daily. She could do as much work as any man. There was no comparison. She and her husband Robert were equals. She also cared for her father-in-law, Kenneth Barker, in their family home for many years until his passing.

She sold AVON and Amway and was an active member of TOPS, Van Buren Music Boosters, Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, Ladies Aid, and the Miller Chapel Cemetery Board. She served in many offices while in these organizations. She helped to establish the Mt. Zion Church Scholarship given to Van Buren High School students for the past 29 years.

She was an avid baker, cook, seamstress, gardener, and a meticulous bookkeeper for the family farm. She enjoyed time in her home as well as outside mowing the lawn or driving a tractor to the Elevator in Stockport. She was with her husband Robert daily and they would take nightly drives to check the cattle then tour the neighborhood and “ensure safety for all.” She always cared for a multitude of animals on the farm and she made sure they were okay even after dark. She loved her family, most especially her grandchildren, Caitlin and Colton. She rocked them to sleep as they were little and ensured they always had special treats at her house after school when they got off the school bus. She enjoyed teaching granddaughter Caitlin how to bake cookies, syrup, and banana bread. She loved being a mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was a very gentle, caring, loving, patient, and warm-hearted woman. Never complained about anything. She never missed a birthday or Christmas card being handwritten and mailed.

Her strong work ethic and dedication to her family were evident in everything she did.

Sandra is survived by her daughter, Christy Ann Barker Vickerman (Jason), sister Sheryl (Lane) Kitzman and brother-in-law, Terry, half-brother Robert Lane, and her grandchildren, Caitlin Marie Wiley and Colton James Wiley, as well as extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother-in-law Duane Turner, and half-brother, Paul Lane.