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 10:30AM 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 2:00PM on Thursday July 13, 2023 with family present 5:00 to 7:00PM at Pedrick Funeral Home. Memorials in Sandy’s honor may be made towards 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, Iowa 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 & her family for many years as well as nurses & 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 predeceased 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 & expanded the farm. In the 1980’s & 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 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 & 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 & 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 & 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 & brother-in-law, Terry, half-brother Robert Lane, & her grandchildren, Caitlin Marie Wiley and Colton James Wiley as well as extended family, friends, and neighbors.
Sandra is predeceased in death by her parents, husband, brother-in-law Duane Turner, and half-brother, Paul Lane.
