Brenda Lee Meincke DuBois

Brenda Lee Meincke DuBois, 67, of Moline, IL, died Thursday, November 17, 2016, at Rosewood Care Center, Moline, IL.

Brenda DuBois touched the lives of many persons in her immediate circle of family and friends, in her lifelong career as a social work educator, and as a community service volunteer.  Our hearts weep for the loss of this kind and loving family member and special friend who passed from our lives on Thursday, but we will always remember and celebrate her life of 67 years.  With her passing, Brenda embarks on a new career as a guardian angel to those she loved so dearly during her life.

Brenda DuBois, MSW, PhD, received a baccalaureate degree from Western Illinois University in 1971, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Iowa in 1997 and a doctoral degree in educational administration from Illinois State University in 2002.  She taught social work for 20 years at Marycrest College and 15 years at St. Ambrose University, serving as Director of the School of Social Work and retiring in 2012.  A published author of two social work textbooks with her colleagues, Karla Miley and Michael O’ Melia, Brenda made positive contributions to the professional and ethical education of over 500 social work graduates who passed through her classes.  She presented at numerous conferences in the Quad Cities, and across the US and Canada on topics of social work ethics and social justice.  Throughout her career, Dr. DuBois served on several community agency boards and social services committees including the United Way of the Quad Cities, Edgerton Women’s Health Center, Vera French Community Mental Health Center, Red Cross of the Quad Cities, Alternatives for the Older Adult, and Skip-a-Long Day Care Center.

Brenda was born on June 4, 1949, to parents Howard and Elizabeth Meincke who preceded her in death.  She is survived by her husband, James DuBois, Moline, and a daughter, Samantha (Dan Bisby) DuBois, Rock Island, and stepson, Jeffery, Fair Hope, AL.  As a “Bonus mom and grandmother”, Brenda dearly loved those grandsons, Michael DuBois, Globe, AZ, and William (Tdaw) DuBois, Silvis, IL, and those great-grandchildren, Christopher DuBois, and DeAndrew and Jayden Severs.  She was a special great aunt to Kellsie, Kaile, and Kera Gedye, Moline, IL.

Brenda has five surviving sibling sisters and five soul sisters that showed unwavering support and unconditional love during her treatment for pancreatic cancer, sisters, Linda White, Prairie City, IA, Diana Meincke, Moline, IL, Margaret (James) Szymborski, Sherrard, IL, Jo Ann Meincke, East Moline, IL, and Mary Meincke, Davenport, IA.  Her closest friends and soul sisters who stayed by her side during chemotherapy treatments include Rita Strang, Rock Island, IL, Nancy Mueller, Coal Valley, IL, Susan Busenbark, Kewanee, IL, Karla Miley, Rock Island, IL, and Linda Hillyer, Moline, IL.

The DuBois and Meincke families acknowledge the expert cancer treatment and compassionate care she received from the surgical, medical and radiology oncologists and nurses at the University of Iowa Hospital Cancer Center in Iowa City, IA, Florida Cancer Specialists in Tavares, FL, and at Medical Arts Associates/Trinity in Moline, and Beacon of Hope Hospice.  Brenda always had positive regard about the treatment she received from those oncology and hospice experts.

As Brenda was a great fan of PBS public television series and educational programming, memorials can be made in her name to IPTV Iowa or WQPT Moline.  Memorials can also be made to the St. Ambrose University School of Social Work.  Visitation will be held at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601 38th Avenue, Moline, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 26, 2016.  A private family graveside service will be held at Greenview Memorial Gardens at a later date.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.